1. The venturi idea seems interesting.
2. Do we know yet that this new technology involves plates and blankets, or is it a direct to substrate method?
Al
Al, here is an interesting article.
Print Business: Komori signs up to use Landa nanography Finishing
It claims that manroland (sheetfed) is also committed to using the Landa technology but will put it in existing press concepts instead of what Komori plans, which is to make totally new press designs.
The reference to manroland's direction makes me think this might not be so far away from what is already happening.
The "water based ink" comments might be a red herring and misleading. Conventional ink on a roller train has water in it and one might say that it is water based. Is it possible that the ejectors are supplying ink and water to a lithographic process? The advantages would be a positive ink feed and a greatly simplified water application method. This would lead to a very consistent and predictable process with fast response, especially if a properly designed short roller train is designed. Sound familiar?
Maybe this guess is way off, but the fact that there is no discussion of imaging the plate and that manroland is thinking of putting it in their conventional presses, makes me think that what I have stated is a possibility for the Landa concept. If true, they have to account for differences in ink and water usage. Something Flint ink did not do when it tried its Single Fluid concept.
If the Landa concept is along this line and is successful, it makes me happy. For one thing it would prove my view. Secondly, my concept would do basically the same thing but at a lower cost and could be used in the short term by modifying existing presses during the next generation press design transition period.
This is getting interesting.
Just in case.
