At Tecnau, we welcome David Croll to our headquarters in Ivrea, Italy, as our dedicated paper specialist. With a PhD in Paper Science and decades of industry experience – including leadership roles at Canon and major paper manufacturers – David brings unparalleled expertise in understanding the complex interactions between paper, ink, and finishing technologies. His addition enhances our ability to deliver robust, innovative solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of digital print finishing.
The Science Behind the Art of Paper Finishing
In the world of digital printing, paper behavior is influenced by numerous factors: temperature, humidity, ink coverage, coating types, and substrate properties. Paper science is a complex field involving chemistry, physics, thermodynamics, and electrical properties. Many of the challenges faced in the product development of finishing equipment can be more quickly addressed when based on sound scientific fundamentals.
High-quality applications like heavy-paper postcards, full-bleed posters, or on-demand productions require a deep understanding of how these variables impact finishing processes. David’s extensive experience in inkjet ink design, paper coating development, and real-world production challenges equips Tecnau to help address these complexities.
Paper science touches every aspect of finishing, from dimensional stability and static control to friction coefficients and runability. For example:
Dimensional Stability: Proper storage and handling are essential to prevent curl, waviness, or shrinkage during finishing.
Static Charge Management: Optimized remoistening, room climate, and material selection ensure smooth handling.
Coefficient of Friction: Understanding how ink and coatings alter paper friction helps refine finishing processes like stacking and folding.
Why This Matters to Tecnau and Our Customers
The addition of paper science expertise to Tecnau’s well-established competencies in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering ensures our solutions are more comprehensive than ever. David’s unique insights into printer-paper-finishing dynamics will not only enhance our product development but also provide practical guidance to customers seeking high-quality results.
This knowledge base further strengthens Tecnau’s position as an industry leader, enabling us to design systems that not only maximize productivity while minimizing idle times, waste, and labor costs, but also result in better end products for our customers.
David’s arrival, paired with our long experience in the field, signifies our ongoing commitment to refining the performance of our finishing solutions, ensuring we continue to meet and exceed the evolving needs of the digital printing industry.
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