Student guide Faculty of Engineering A.Y. 2008/09

The course covers the full range of processes for producing packaging and printed materials: the various working methods are illustrated, along with the materials, the characteristics that distinguish them and the reasons for differentiated choices, the principles on which the processes are based, and the most significant operations for assuring quality, and compliance with regulations and standards. The main topic areas covered are the following:

 The product and its components: distinguishing characteristics of the materials used, types of finished and/or semifinished products obtained and their uses.

Analysis of the characteristics of the main raw materials.

Control points and methods for determining economic feasibility, and assuring quality and compliance with regulations and unified standards.

Introductory lesson on Automated Production Systems.

- Setting up the characteristics of a printed product – the layout, proof-sheet and the steps in their creation and development.

- Composition: the text, characters, and type chosen to illustrate the parameters of the text and page.

- Photosensitivity: photosensitive materials – photographic reproduction: films, densities, contrast, gamma – Primary and secondary colours – Selection of colours – Principles of colour and tone correction – CMS colour management system

- Halftoning: fixed and stochastic screens.

- Prepress equipment, scanners, plotters, densitometers, spectrophotometers: principles of operation, components – Testing of systems and equipment.

- Mounting – Imposition - Forms of typographical printing, offset, rotogravure, flexographic, copperplate, screen printing: materials and methods for producing and obtaining – CtP, CtC.

- Sheet fed and rotary printing machines: structure and operation, peculiarities, optimal use.

- Impact printing machines: typographical, offset, photogravure, flexographic, copperplate, screen printing: structures, operation, components and accessories. Process steps.

- Printing systems and impactless digital printing machines: Xerography, Ink-jet: Sublimation: principles of operation, structure of the various types of machines, fundamental components and accessories.

- Bookbinding: the various industrial bookbinding methods, individual operations for converting the semi-finished printed sheets into the finished product (cutting, folding, gathering, stitching, covering, hot stamping, gluing, casing) and equipment used, structure of the machines, operation, components, accessories, raw and consumable materials.

- Packaging technology: typical processes and equipment used: die-cutting, folding/gluing, corrugated cardboard, flexible packaging: description of the machines, processes and materials.

- Paper, cardboard, inks: raw materials for production of printed-packaging materials, chemical-physical characteristics, production, peculiarities.

- Organising and planning the production, organisational structure – Quoting – Job invoicing, Job order analysis: methods and equipment – Work Contract, safety regulations.

Oral Exam

Notes and materials provided by the lecturers.