Handbook on Printing Technology (Offset, Flexo, Gravure, Digital, 3D Printing with Book Binding & CTP)  6th Edition

Handbook on Printing Technology (Offset, Flexo, Gravure, Digital, 3D Printing with Book Binding & CTP) 6th Edition

By NIIR Board of Consultants & Engineers

Format: paperback
Code: NI73
Pages: 440
ISBN: 978-81-940995-0-5
Publisher: Asia Pacific Business Press Inc.
$0 ₹2475 new
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The printing industry is one of the most versatile and enduring sectors, playing a crucial role in communication, commerce, education, packaging, and creative expression. Despite the growth of digital media, the business of printing continues to thrive because of its adaptability and wide application. From newspapers, books, and marketing materials to packaging, textiles, and 3D applications, printing has consistently evolved to meet changing social and industrial needs. It not only supports information dissemination and branding but also powers innovation across industries like publishing, advertising, e-commerce, and manufacturing. The sector’s ability to integrate traditional craftsmanship with modern technology makes it both timeless and forward-looking.

The market for printing today is diverse and opportunity-rich. It extends far beyond mass production and includes specialized services such as customized printing, eco-friendly solutions, digital-on-demand publishing, and hybrid printing models. Customers increasingly seek quick turnaround, personalization, and sustainable practices, creating space for entrepreneurs to carve out unique niches. Printing also acts as an enabler for other industries by enhancing packaging appeal, supporting marketing campaigns, and adding value through creative design and finishing. In this dynamic landscape, success is not only about machinery or processes but also about understanding evolving consumer expectations, aligning with sustainability goals, and delivering superior quality with efficiency.

This book has been carefully designed to guide readers through every dimension of the industry. It covers the fundamentals of printing processes relief, offset, gravure, flexography, screen, and digital alongside modern innovations like Print-on-Demand, 3D printing, textile printing, and cloud-based print management. The book also provides practical knowledge on plant layouts, pre-press preparation, raw materials, machinery, quality control, BIS specifications, and supplier details. Beyond technical explanations, it includes insights into marketing strategies, customer acquisition, and future trends such as sustainable practices and smart packaging. Richly supported with process flow diagrams, equipment photographs, and case-based illustrations, it serves as both a reference and a practical toolkit.

For entrepreneurs, professionals who aspire to enter or expand in this field, the book offers much more than technical detail it provides a roadmap to building a viable and future-ready printing business. Entrepreneurs can use it as a starting point to identify opportunities and plan investments, professionals can rely on it to update their knowledge and adopt new practices, and students will find it a comprehensive learning resource bridging theory and application. By combining industry knowledge with practical guidance, this handbook equips readers to understand the sector deeply, respond to changing market realities, and successfully establish or grow a printing enterprise.

 

CONTENTS

  1. INTRODUCTION

History

Four Major Printing Processes Relief Printing Process

The Process

Letter Press Printing Process Plano Graphic

Offset

The Advantages of Offset Printing Include Screen Printing Process

Other Printing Methods Digital Printing

Paper for Printing

  1. HOW TO START A PRINTING INDUSTRY

Introduction

Understanding the Printing Industry Landscape

Types of Printing Businesses Industry Trends

Market Research and Feasibility Study Crafting a Business Plan

Legal and Regulatory Requirements Securing Funding

Setting Up Printing Facility

Acquiring Equipment and Technology Staffing and Training

Developing Brand and Marketing Strategy Operations Management and Quality Control Financial Management and Growth Strategies Embracing Sustainability

Challenges and Solutions

  1. MODERN PRINTING TECHNIQUES

Printing (Press Operation) Colour Printing

How a Printing Press Works

The Latest Technologies in Printing Industry Digital Inkjet Printing

3D Printing Rise Software Innovations

Hybrid Print Technologies

Efficient Technology

Special Printing Technologies

Basic Principles of Hybrid Printing System Hybrid Printing System Concepts of Combining Conventional Printing Technologies

Hybrid Printing Systems Combining NIP Technologies Hybrid Printing Systems Combining

Conventional and NIP Technologies

Hybrid Printing Systems Combining Computer to Press/ Direct Imaging with NIP Technologies

Hybrid Printing Systems Combining Conventional Printing Technologies with Computer to Press Technologies Basic Principles of Waterless Offset Printing Advantages/Merits of Waterless Printing

Qualitative Advantages Production Advantages Ecological Advantages

Basic Principle of Digital Printing

Flow Chart of Digital Composition of a Printed Page Direct Imaging (with master)

Computer to Print (without master)

Scope and Job suitability of Digital Printing Process

Basic Principle of Direct Imaging

Once Imagebale Master (Plate Imaging) Re-imagebale Master (Surface Imaging)

  1. PRE-PRESS PREPARATION

Introduction to Pre-Press Preparation Stages of the Pre-Press Process

File Preparation and Collection Preflighting

Image and Colour Management Typography and Font Management Proofing

Plate Making (for Non-Digital Printing)

Best Practices in Pre-Press Preparation

Technologies and Tools in Pre-Press Common Pre-Press Challenges and Solutions The Importance of Pre-Press in Print Quality

and Efficiency

Common Mistakes in Pre-Press Preparation

  1. MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS

Lithographic varnish Gum Arabic

Acids Turpentine French Chalk Resin Asphaltum Paraffin Driers Sponge

Dampening Cloth Vaseline

Tools and Equipments Scraper

Ink Knife Wrench

Precautions in Use Allen wrench

Box Wrench Adjustable Wrench Proofing Devices Mechanical Features The main body

Plate bed Paper bed Blanket cylinder Safety guards

Cylinder revolving switches Impression lever track Impression handle Dampening tray

Inking system Delivery

Operational Features

Makeready of the press

Pre-makeready of the plate Clamping the plate

Plate bed height setting Paper bed setting Dampening the plate Inking the plate.

Pulling the proof Automatic Proof Presses Use of proof presses

Photo-mechanical processes of proofing

Qualities of a Good Proof Proofing and printing

  1. SHEETFED OFFSET PRINTING

Names of the machines Mechanical Features Driving mechanism Switch boards

Mechanical driving of the machine Safety devices

Lubrication

Sheet feeding mechanism Sheet board

Functions of blowers Functions of the blower foot Sheet lifting and forwarding Sheet Controls

Sheet Register Front lays Side lays

Sheet Insertion and Transfer Direct method

Gripper designs Setting of grippers Inking System

Ink store and feed Distribution System Drums system Multiroll System Plate inking rollers Wash-up device Operating system

Precautions Adjustment of Rollers Maintenance of rollers

Different Dampening Systems Conventional dampening system Adjustments

Cleaning of Dampeners Construction of the machine Working on the cleaning machine Continuous feeding

Air knife dampening system Flap dampening system

Squeegee roller dampening system Reserve roller dampening system Brush feed dampening sytem Alcohol dampening system

Plate Cylinder

Cylinder driving Cylinder body Cylinder gap Plate clamping Blanket Cylinder

Impression Cylinder Adjustment of Cylinders

Setting of plate and blanket cylinder Pitch circle

Backlash

Combination of cylinder surface Calculation of packing thickness Advantages of Both Principles Delivery Mechanism

Sheet transfer Creation of air cushion Sheet slowing device Delivery skeletons Sheet carrier

Air blowers

Lighting arrangements Delivery part (board) Advantages

Counting machine Delivery board

Qualities of a good delivery system Attachments on the delivery part (board) Anti-setoff Spray

Powder spray Liquid spray system Precautions

Miscellaneous Operations

Numbers printing device Slitting device Perforating device

  1. WEB OFFSET PRINTING

Design of web machines Driving Mechanism Electrical arrangements Controlling box

Machine driving Oiling systems Reel stand unit Reel shaft Brake wheel

Lifting and lowering the reel Centering the reel shaft Tension rollers

Checking of momentum Automatic reel changing Web control unit

Web cleaner Photo-electric cell Web infeed system

Web transfer rollers Angular turner bars Printing Units

One side printing units

Blanket to blanket printing units Satellite system of units

Main Parts of Printing Unit

Plate cylinder

Plate edge bending Blanket cylinder Impression cylinder Inking System

Chilling device

Between the printing units Dampening system

Spray fountain system Delivery operations Ink drying unit

The temperature Chilling unit

Silicon applicating unit Delivery Unit Forwarding cylinders

P.I.V. gear mechanism Former

Adjustment of the former Centre indicator

Pulling rollers Folding Unit Second folder Third folder Cutting device Section counter Fourth folder

Section separator Section gathering

Ancillary Operations by Delivery Unit

Numbering Perforating Stitching Cutting Slitting device

Sheeting device

  1. COLOUR AND ITS REPRODUCTION

Terminology Related to Colour

Contrast Harmony Hue

Tint Shade Tone

Analogous colours Complementary colours

Density

Transparent and opaque colours

Mixing and Matching of Colours

The following factors affect the visual appearance of printed ink film

Precautions to be taken in ink mixing

Sequence of Colours in Printing

  1. QUALITY CONTROL IN PRINTING

Before Printing

Paper Ink

Dampening solution Plate

Machines and maintenance

During Printing Preparation of stock Sheet controls and guides Ink controls

Dampening controls Register controls Printing defects Control at delivery

Machine room temperature Working conditions

After Printing

Handling of printed sheets Counting of sheets

  1. FLEXOGRAPHY PRINTING

Flexography Flexographic platemaking Photo Chemical Change Rotary Principle

Rubber plates Substrates Paper and board

  1. ROTOGRAVURE PRINTING
  2. PRINT ON DEMAND (POD) AND WEB-TO-PRINT BUSINESS MODELS

Understanding POD and Its Applications

Setting up a Web-to-Print Storefront Integrating E-Commerce with Print Production Customization and Personalization Trends Key Strategies

  1. DIGITAL PRINTING

Introduction Digital Printing

Important Things We Should Know About Digital Printing Types of Digital Printing

Inkjet Printer Laser Printer

Important Features of Laser Printer Advantages of Digital Printing

Benefits of Digital Printing Design & Printing

Cheaper Printing High quality

Difference between Screen Printing and Digital Printing

Screen Printing Digital Printing

Comparison between Digital Printing and Press Printing

Digital Printing Press Printing

  1. DIGITAL TEXTILE AND SPECIALTY PRINTING

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing Dye Sublimation Printing Reactive and Pigment Printing UV Gel and Advanced Inkjet

  1. 3D PRINTING

Introduction

History of 3D Printing

How Does 3D Printing Work? Technology

3D PRINTING APPLICATIONS

Medical and Dental Aerospace Automotive Jewellery Art/Design/Sculpture Architecture Fashion

Food

Benefits of 3D Printing

Advantages of 3D Printing in Manufacturing 3-D Printers are Becoming More Affordable Quicker Turnaround Times for Prototyping Quicker Product Launches

Competitive Advantage

Reduction in Manufacturing Errors

Complex Geometries Mass Customization Less Tooling

Fewer Costs Environmentally Friendly

Benefits of 3D Printing in Healthcare What Materials do 3D Printers Use?

Plastics Powders Resins

Other Materials

How do the different 3D Printing Technologies Work?

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) How does FDM Work?

Materials for FDM

Stereolithography and Digital Light Processing (SLA & DLP)

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Material Jetting (PolyJet and MultiJet Modeling) Binder Jetting

Metal Printing (Selective Laser Melting and Electron Beam Melting)

Electron Beam Melting Characteristics

Selective Laser Melting Applications

PolyJet Photopolymer Benefits of Polyjet Polyjet Materials

3D Printing is a Game Changer

  1. 3D PRINTING MACHINERY
    • Airwolf AW3D HD
    • SLA 3D Printing Machine
    • 3D Printing Machine
    • Makerbot Replicator
    • Dual Head 3D Printer
    • Prototyping Machine
    • Flashforge Finder
    • 3D Systems Cube
    • 3D Jet
    • Formlabs
  2. CLOUD PRINTING AND REMOTE PRINT MANAGEMENT

Cloud-Based Print Solutions and Their Benefits Key Features of Cloud-Based Print Solutions Leading Cloud Printing Platforms

Benefits

Managing Print Operations Remotely

Key Aspects of Remote Print Management Security Considerations for Cloud Printing Threats and Risks

Key Security Best Practices Compliance

Integration with Mobile and Remote Workforces

Mobile Printing Features

Facilitating Remote and Hybrid Work Business Advantages

Remote Print Management

Key Functions in the Printing Industry Context

Centralized Production Monitoring Workflow Automation and Scheduling Quality and Proof Management Maintenance and Support

Data Analytics and Reporting Security and Compliance

  1. BOOK BINDING

Terms and Techniques Cutting & Folding

Folded Sheet or Section Binding Book binding Methods

Perfect Binding Hardcover/Case Binding

Saddle Staple (Fold, Staple, Trim) Binding Wiro Binding

Automatic Book Binding Machine

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

  1. COMPUTER-TO-PLATE (CTP)

CTP Technologies Regulatory Requirements Plate Development

Visible Laser Plates Using Silver Halide Thermal Laser Plates Using Ablation

Temperature Control for Computer to Plate Technology Process

Platesetter Cooling Plate Processor Cooling

CTP Technology in Offset Printing

  1. MARKETING, BRANDING, AND CUSTOMER ACQUISITION FOR PRINT START-UPS

Why Marketing and Branding Matter for Print Start-ups ?

Building a Strong Brand Identity

Essential Print Marketing Tools for Start-ups Digital Marketing Strategies for Print Businesses Cost-Effective Customer Acquisition Tactics Measuring and Optimizing Your Marketing Efforts Branding and Customer Experience

Practical Checklist for Print Start-ups

  1. PRINTING INDUSTRY TRENDS AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Digital Transformation in Printing Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Printing 3D Printing: Expanding Horizons Personalization and Customization Smart Packaging and Printed Electronics Hybrid Printing Technologies

Growth of Packaging Printing Print-on-Demand (POD) Services

Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Printing Emerging Markets and Global Opportunities

  1. BIS SPECIFICATIONS
  2. PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAMS & LAYOUTS
  3. PLANT LAYOUT DESCRIPTION OF

THE PRINTING INDUSTRY

Objectives of Plant Layout in Printing

 

 

Key Areas in a Printing Plant Layout Principles and Techniques of Plant Layout Layout Planning Process in a Printing Plant

The Key Factors to Consider When Designing a Plant Layout for a Printing Industry

  1. PHOTOGRAPHS OF MACHINERY WITH

SUPPLIER’S CONTACT DETAILS

    • Single Colour Offset Printing Machine
    • Two Colour Satellite Offset Printing Machine
    • Offset Printing with Numbering and Perforating Machine
    • Web Offset Printing Machine
    • Colour Screen Printer
    • Flatbed Screen Printer
    • Automatic Sheetfed Offset Printing Machine
    • Sheetfed Offset Machine
    • Mini Offset Printing Machine
    • Flexographic Printing Machine
    • Label Master Flexographic Printing Press
    • Poly Offset Printing Machines
    • Prepress Equipments
    • Flip Top Printing Down Frame Single/Double Sided Machine
    • Instant Start Metal Halide Plate Exposure
    • Plate Coating Whirler
    • Plate Curing Equipment
    • Damper Roller Washer
    • Vertical Process Camera
    • 3M Plate Processor
    • Computer-to-Screen Exposure System
    • IGP Plate Processor
    • Screen CTP System
    • Inkjet CTP System (Computer to Plate Machine)
    • Rotogravure Printing Machine
    • 4 HI Tower (Automatic)
    • 3 Colour + Stack Unit (Manual)
    • Finishing System
    • UV Inkjet Digital Printing System
    • Perfecting Production System
    • Tape Binder
    • High Light Colour System
    • Colour Printer
 

 

    • Digital Press
    • Digital Colour Press
    • Manual Offset Printing Machine
    • Rotogravure Printing Machine
    • Black and White Digital Print Production System
    • Digital Printing Machine
    • Paper Binding Machine
  1. PLANT LAYOUTS
  2. REFERENCES

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