Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TODE20240711023
- Term of Validity
- 11 July 2024 - 11 July 2025
- Company's Country
- Germany
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
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The non-profit research institute has expertise from prepress to print finishing, including security documents and sustainability. It is based in Germany with members in over 50 countries. The equipment includes colour measurement devices, optical spectroscopy, scanning electron and 3D miscroscopes, chromatography, aging test capabilities, an offset printing machine and test printing devices.
The institute looks for cooperations in EU-based consortia and funded research projects. - Full Description
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The institute conducts research with the aim of application transfer to the industry. This also includes the development of new test methods and certifications. The research projects are targeted at six specialist areas:
1) Prepress Technology: Research projects deal with all aspects of the media production workflow. These are colour management, image acquisition, data preparation, visual appraisal, and soft and hard copy proofing.
2) Offset Printing: The research is directly related to the printing practice. Correlations are established between the print quality, the process parameters and the materials used.
3) Digital Printing: The focus is on process-independent image quality, colour management for the entire digital printing sector and important sustainability topics such as energy efficiency.
4) Packaging & Print Finishing: Parameters that determine quality, process optimization, test methods and sustainability are examined.
5) Materials & Environment: The behaviour of specific materials in the printing process and the interaction of components, environmental compatibility and energy optimisation are assessed.
6) Security applications: The research focuses on reliable security concepts with tamper-proof and durable products including the security of chip cards and documents.
Examples for application transfer to the industry are:
• The media wedge is the tool used worldwide to specify the colour appearance of a print run in
advance in a legally binding manner.
• Based on ISO standards, processes for certification of offset and digital printers and
corresponding equipment have been established. Certifications have been carried out in
approximately 30 countries by now.
• In cooperation with printing machine manufacturers procedures for testing chemicals have been
developed. Over 2000 liquids have been certified as having no harmful effects on the presses.
• Prototypes of security documents are tested to ensure that they retain their security properties after
real life ageing. Theses simulations allow for innovative developments by the issuers of security
documents. - Advantages and Innovations
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The institute collaborates with numerous companies to stay at the forefront of technological developments and ensure effective knowledge transfer. Examples include optimizing the reproduction of corporate colors for consistent appearance across various materials, including heavily used saw blades.
Industry Engagement
• Technical Discussions: Engaged with approximately 900 members and technical advisory boards from diverse industries, including printers, manufacturers (machines, substrates, inks, devices, and other materials), print buyers, agencies, and security document manufacturers.
• Newsletter Subscribers: Around 3,000 subscribers receive the monthly newsletter.
• Industry Associations: Maintains contact with several national and international industry associations.
• Customers and Partners: Many companies collaborate with the institute for research, testing, certification, training courses, and symposia.
Standardization Activities
• Active Role: Participates in various standardization bodies, including all working groups of ISO Technical Committee 130 “Graphic Technology” and security document committees (e.g., ISO/IEC JTC1 SC17, ISO TC 122, and ICAO).
• Leadership: Led the development of important standards like ISO 15311 and 12647.
Research Expertise and Equipment
• Experience: Over 70 years of research experience.
• Facilities: Offers a comprehensive range of equipment ready for immediate use.
The institute has participated in several international projects, particularly in EU-funded and privately financed projects. Two examples are:
• Corenet: Improved laboratory methods for reproducible and comparable paper and ink testing results.
• Horizon 2020: Early Stage researchers extended the understanding of prints from two to three dimensions.
Certification Standards
• The institute’s laboratory is accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (levels I to III). It certifies technical processes, machines, materials, and personal skills in the print media industry. - Stage of Development
- Already on the market
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 13: Climate Action
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The offering institute is seeking to form collaborative partnerships with EU-based consortia and funded research projects.
Partners may be research organisations, universities, or companies operating in any sector. They can be single entities or existing consortia. Partners are expected to have significant experience in such projects, in particular with the administration of EU proposals.
The offering institute will provide partners with access to high-level research expertise and a broad industry knowledge base. The institute's extensive network of members and its track record of thousands of successful certifications and testing services will facilitate good access to companies. - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME 50 - 249
- University
- SME <=10
- Other
- SME 11-49
- R&D Institution
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01005003 - E-Publishing, Digital Content
- Market keywords
- 07005006 - Other consumer services (including photo processing)
- 09003006 - Media related services
- 09003007 - Other services (not elsewhere classified)
- Sector Groups Involved
- Digital
- Creative Industries
- Targeted countries
- All countries