Highcon has announced it has received the prestigious 2015 InterTech Technology Award from the Printing Industries of America (PIA) for its Highcon Euclid digital finishing technology. Recipients were chosen based on their innovation and likelihood of advancing the performance of the graphic communications industry.

Since 1978, the InterTech Technology Awards sponsored by Printing Industries of America, recognize ground-breaking technologies that are predicted to have a major impact on the graphic arts and related industries. According to PIA, more than 80 percent of the technologies that have received this award experience continued commercial success in the marketplace. The PIA is the largest graphical arts trade association, representing an industry with about 1 million employees and thousands of member companies.

“The judges immediately recognized the sizeable benefit from Highcon Euclid Digital Finishing Technology — apart from the ability to produce intricate cutouts and highly creative structural designs, finishing is often seen as the bottleneck in production. This changes the balance with reduced turnaround time and no money spent on dies,” says Dr. Mark Bohan, vice president, technology and research, Printing Industries of America. “The DART technology was an innovative approach to create crease lines — all in all it makes short-run conversion of paper, labels, folding cartons, and microflute more economical than ever.”

Vic Stalam, president, Highcon Inc., says: “We are proud to have received this prestigious award which recognizes the truly innovative value of the Highcon Euclid solution. One of the most rewarding aspects of applying for this award was the amazing comments made by our customers in the testimonial letters. For us, this is the true measure of Highcon’s technology — its successful application in the real world”

The Highcon Euclid machines incorporate several brand new approaches to finishing. First and most important, is the application of digital technology to this last analogue process, eliminating the need for a die. This translates into extremely rapid setup time, and the ability to edit, correct or change the layout at any stage in the process, the company reports.

The heart of the system is the patented Highcon DART (Digital Adhesive Rule Technology). This proprietary technology makes use of state-of-the-art resin to write the creases on the DART foil.

For cutting and etching, Highcon has implemented a sophisticated array of lasers and optics. The Highcon Euclid uses a number of new technologies to optimize productivity and quality. These enable high-quality cutting and etching as well as unique intricate shapes and customized cartons.

Highcon will be exhibiting at Booth #1939 at Graph Expo 2015 in Chicago, September 13-16 where visitors will be able to see a wide range of products, from basic to extreme, all produced on the Highcon Euclid.