We recently completed a job that required not only film laminating, but also die cutting, scoring, stripping, folding and shrinkwrapping. Right up our alley. The customer was also very involved with this project, and we were happy to have them in our plant for one-on-one reviews at each step of production.

The job arrived as planned, with two press forms on full size sheets. Each form had multiple-up versions for a total of five different images, with each being a different shape.

The first step was to apply laminating film to both sides of the sheets for which we used two of our three film laminators to keep the job on schedule. NOTE: We just added a fourth film laminator giving us even more muscle for jobs like this.

One of the sheets had eight inches of waste. Since we had been involved in the design phase, we encouraged the job planner to push this waste to one end of the sheet so we could trim it off before film laminating, saving a significant amount of film from the waste stream and resulting in a lower cost for the customer.

The next step was diecutting. After producing some samples and sending them out for review, the decision was made to change the design slightly to reduce the overhang of the front page over the back page as it had originally been designed. We supplied a CAD cut sample of the pieces with the proposed changes, which the client approved. So a new set of dies was ordered.

A second version of these complex dies was produced quickly, but then a new issue arose over hole diameter. However, after considering a number of options, the customer decided to stick with the original design. Our Bobst Autoplaten press was ideally suited for the diecutting portion of this job because it enabled us to strip the interior holes in line at production speeds.

The job was then trimmed and makeready was started on our MBO folders. This was a complex folding job due to each of the seven images being a different shape on the face, requiring our many years of folding experience to get this up and running efficiently.

The final step of near-line shrinkwrapping turned out to be tricky, as well, because the normal heat level for the shrinkwrap tunnel could damage the film lamination. But we were able to fine tune that balance and complete the job ahead of schedule.

It was a job with a happy ending that we are very proud to share.

Seattle  Bindery
6540 South Glacier Street, Suite 120
Seattle, WA 98188

Phone: 425-656-8210
Fax: 425-656-4400
miltvine@seattlebindery.com
www.seattlebindery.com

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