Hologram Industry News

AB Graphic International has announced a number of new developments for its Digicon Series 2 label converting line. These include modules for booklet insertion, foil hologram registration and twin flatbed die embossing/foiling (pictured).

The Omega Digicon series 2 is a modular label converting line for digitally printed webs and offers all the usual production options such as 100% camera inspection, hot foil stamping, embossing, over laminating and sheeting. The new modules expand the range of label applications possible.

The booklet insertion application is fitted to the Digicon on rails so that it can be pushed out of the way when the not in use. The machine can process booklets with a thickness of up to 32 pages and is PC controlled through a touch screen that also permits jobs to be saved. Digital servomotors ensure precise web tension and tracking.

The hologram module was recently supplied for a security application and is used in combination with an inkjet printing system. This particular converting line is unique in that it has three web movements all on the same machine; semi-rotary, intermittent and full rotary.

The twin flat bed die embossing module with semi-rotary die cutting is another innovation that also permits foiling. On this application, the web on the Digicon is briefly paused while it is going backwards and forwards in semi rotary mode, and kept stationary just long enough to permit foiling. Savings are realized through the use of flat bed tooling which is a fraction of the cost of rotary tooling.

Prism Solar Technologies, maker of concentrating solar film that is said to up the efficiency and cut the cost of solar panel installations, has launched its second round of funding — hoping to bring in at least $150 million to finance the restoration of an old New York factory into a manufacturing facility, reports VentureWire.

The company acquired the 6.5-acre site for $3.75 million. Based in Highland, N.Y., it includes 93,000 square feet of plant space, with the potential to produce 60 megawatts of solar cells every year, and 1,000 megawatts of film to sell to cell manufacturers. Prism will also inherit a functioning machine shop, a wet lab, built-in security systems and specialty optical and glass-cleaning equipment from the building’s previous owner, PLASMACO. It says the new facility should create between 200 and 400 jobs in the next five years.

But the necessary conversion won’t be possible without additional funding — something that’s hard to come by for many solar firms, like Ausra and Optisolar, that have had to scale back their plant-building ambitions due to the downturn. Prism might have a slight advantage because its technology saves money, a key feature of many cleantech startups that successfully raise capital these days. The transparent holograms the company produces are much cheaper than typical solar cells and can be used to replace actual cells in panels while still producing the same wattage. The company claims that its holograms could reduce the number of expensive cells needed for panels by 85 percent.

Big solar firms in Silicon Valley get the lion’s share of attention, but Prism Solar has motored along fairly steadily. Based outside the fray in Lake Katrine, N.Y., it’s emphasis on low-cost holographic film separates it from the pack of solar competitors. In short, the holographic film — trapped between two layers of glass — redirects sunlight to the actual cells, keeping them working constantly at top efficiency. In addition to cutting costs, this system would also reduce panel maker’s dependence on pricey silicon resources.

Prism is already producing its holographic film in Tucson, Ariz., but only on a very small scale. It’s also just coming off an undisclosed bridge round of funding. It previously raised $10 million from IB2F Venture Capital, Phoenix-Fire, CounterPoint Ventures and several individual investors, not counting $500,000 in Grants from New York State’s Energy Research and Development Authority and $1 million in federal funding.
Sources

Specialist publishers, conference organisers and consultants Reconnaissance International has purchased the annual Pan-European High Security Printing Conference and the Asian High Security Printing Conference from the Cross Group and BSC International.

Established in 2001 these conferences have become recognised as leading events within the government and related high-security documents arena. The conferences cover issues relating to banknote production and cash handling, passports, tax stamps, e-passports, e-ID card production and other areas involved in high security printing.

The next four conferences will be transitional, organised jointly by Cross Group, BSC International and Reconnaissance International, as the events are integrated into Reconnaissance’s existing conference business. This includes the Tax Stamp Forum, Optical Document Security, the Global Forum on Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeiting and the Holo-pack•Holo-print® conference among others.

Ian Lancaster, managing director of Reconnaissance International, said the acquisitions will be an excellent fit with the company’s existing portfolio.

“These conferences complement our existing operations and fit extremely well between our core currency and authentication activities,” he said.

The 6th Pan-European High Security Printing Conference will be held from 1 - 2 April 2009 in Warsaw, Poland, while the 8th Asian High Security Printing Conference will follow on 13 -15 October 2009, with support from the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

The 7th Pan-European High Security Printing Conference will be held in Berlin, German in spring 2010.
For more about this visit: http://www.reconnaissance-intl.com/