Offset printing is just one of 45 skills showcased and involves the production of printed material using the offset sheet-fed press and other equipment to create finished printed products. Responsible for producing all printed material at a printing operation, large or small, entrants will be expected to have an understanding of the different methods from letterpress and lithographic to flexographic and gravure. They should be able to select the most appropriate machine for a particular job, plan and arrange image materials, combine inks and regulate colour flows, and adjust the printing plates to fit the item involved. .
The skill requires an in-depth knowledge of handling, troubleshooting and maintaining printing factors such as ink, paper and equipment. This includes mixing custom ink colours and operating cutting equipment to produce a job to a customer's specifications. Quality control equipment such as densitometers and spectrophotometers will be used to verify and adjust the print quality and color consistency.
This where X-Rite's expertise can help by providing six X-Rite 528 Portable Spectrodensitometers with essential color measurement features that capture density, color and spectral data for consistency between different press, suppliers, and customers, two EasyTrax semi-automated color scanning systems for producing accurate CMYK and CMYK + 2 color jobs and an iCPlate II plate reader that supports AM screening and plate measurement. These solutions will allow them to evaluate and control the quality of colour on press during the run.
Aidan Jones, CEO of WorldSkills 2011 commented on X-Rite's sponsorship saying: "The 'value in kind' sponsorship from official suppliers such as X-Rite is essential in making this event happen. WorldSkills London 2011 is an excellent platform to promote the creative and technological advances made in a range of industries from cabinetmaking and floristry to web design and print. The event will bea huge boost to the UK economy, leaving a legacy of young people inspired by skills and we want to thank suppliers such as X-Rite for helping us make this event happen".
"Having companies like X-Rite support us is a great endorsement of how important events like this are in actively engaging the interest of young people that will in turn help to provide new approaches to traditional trades and ways of working." Tom Dlugos X-Rite Market Manager for Print adds: "Print is a vibrant, colourful and exciting medium where technology advances happen on a daily basis so it is only right that its strengths should be highlighted by such a creative event. X-Rite is honored by being selected as the only Graphic Arts instrument provider for the WorldSkills competition. In a world that seem to celebrate mediocrity it is great to see future members of our workforce community compete to secure the title of "Best of the Best" , it will be a valuable life lesson that the students can carry forward as they enter the workforce. X-Rite wishes each candidate and team the very best."