With the intention of establishing a new benchmark for color quality in the packaging market, Goss International has agreed a strategic cooperation with graphic software provider Alwan Color Expertise. The agreement will ensure repeatable color accuracy for Goss Sunday Vpak press users across all applications including labels, carton and board, and flexible packaging printing.

According to Mike D’Angelo, managing director of Goss International Americas, Goss has recognized a pressing need for color consistency standards within the packaging sector since entering the market in 2012. “This is particularly critical when using special ink formulations and substrates that have been specified by brand owners, often with little regard for the technical challenges involved,” comments D’Angelo. “In response to this need, we have identified Alwan as the perfect fit for Goss, complementing our own product design expertise with their established ISO development credentials.”

Goss Sunday Vpak 500 and Vpak 3000 web offset press models for folding carton, flexible packaging, pre-print and label applications are available in web widths from 520 mm to 1905 mm (20.5 to 75 inches) and print at speeds of up to 457 meters (1,500 feet) per minute. Key features include quick-change sleeve adapter technology for efficient, cost-effective size changes, and advanced offset inking, tension and control systems.

As a result of the new cooperation, customers for the Goss Sunday Vpak series will benefit from a complete turnkey package printing system including hardware, software, installation, training and ISO certification. Software solutions provided will include on-press color matching, press calibration, and print proofing and verification, all of which are available for CMYK and extended gamut printing, spot color and HiFi color production.

Elie Khoury, Alwan founder and president, has been at the forefront of ISO developments for commercial and newspaper printing for more than 16 years and a leading contributor to advancements in packaging workflow standardization over the past four years. “Alwan Color Expertise has a long-term commitment to establishing industry standards. It has been a defining objective of our business since it was founded, and we select our partners for this undertaking very carefully,” comments Khoury. “Being inherently stable – even for webs as wide as 1905 mm – Goss Vpak technology meets our criteria in every respect. Combining it with our software and workflow know-how will enable customers to provide packaging print of unbeatable quality. Vpak technology also delivers a uniquely cost-effective approach, offering a viable long-term solution for converters in tackling the trend towards shorter run lengths. Alwan Color Expertise will help make this proposition even more powerful by ensuring the most efficient makeready processes and, with it, low waste.”

Alwan’s training capabilities were a key aspect of the agreement for Goss. Through its Academy of Color Expertise (ACE), customers can receive technical and sales training, installation and integration services, as well as certification of individual operators and of facilities. Working with partner organization Kee Consultants (www.keeconsultants.com), Alwan is also able to offer technical consultancy, including workflow audits to help customers establish best practice for achieving stable processes and implementing ISO standards.

“This agreement is a win-win for us as suppliers, but yet more so for the labels and packaging market. We’re especially energized by the opportunity to roll out the benefits of process color to the package printing market,” concludes D’Angelo. “Using CMYK+ offers so much more production flexibility and agility for accommodating image changes and enabling fast makereadies, as well as being vastly more cost-effective. But packaging printers and converters need to be entirely confident that the quality will meet the demands of the brand managers. Our joint offering with Alwan can help deliver this.”