Hamillroad Software’s Bellissima Digitally Modulated Screening (DMS) technology for flexo has received the 2018 Technical Innovation Award from the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA). This award recognizes and celebrates the incredible achievements that have contributed to the growth of the flexographic industry and have the potential to power flexography’s future.

The gala awards banquet was held at the FTA’s Annual Forum on May 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, IN, USA. The award was presented to Andy Cave, CEO of Hamillroad Software, by Joe Tuccitto, director of education at FTA, and Shelley Rubin, FTA’s manager of educational services, FTA.

The award-winning Bellissima DMS produces high-quality prints equivalent to 350-450 lpi with excellent image reproduction and boasts no color shifts on misregistration. By utilizing fixed palette inks, the screening delivers smooth flat tints and moiré free prints with no visible rosettes. Vignettes fade smoothly to nothing enabled by printed highlight dots as low as 1.0% and shadow dots up to 99.5%.

“This award provides the strongest public affirmation, by a panel of peers, experts in the industry, that they agree that what we have is a major technical innovation for flexo printin g which will cause a significant transformation in what is possible,” says Cave.“The only thing that could, or will ever beat winning such an award, would be to have many happy customers who just as emphatically say that Bellissima has transformed their business.”
 
Tuccitto adds, “I think that the Bellissima technology is absolutely amazing. It is really going to revolutionize the flexographic industry moving forward.”

Working optimally at 4,000 dpi, the patented screening includes features such as 100% solid surface patterning options and solid object protection. Printing press issues including bounce, barring and slur are all reduced significantly, and in some cases, eliminated. Bellissima DMS also delivers on ink savings, which can be augmented by GCR based software, improves the efficiency of the press room, and utilizes existing printing press equipment.

“The team at Hamillroad is extremely proud of this achievement and extremely grateful to have been recognized by the FTA for our technical contribution to flexo,” says Danielle Kinsella, marketing director at Hamillroad Software. “Having launched Bellissima at Labelexpo in September 2017, we couldn’t have imagined the level of interest and excitement surrounding our product, let alone receive such a prestigious award.”