FASTechnology Group & Graph-Tech USA Partnership

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Turn-key inkjet & vision system integration

FASTechnology Group & Graph-Tech USA Join Forces to Reshape the US Commercial Printing, Finishing and Mailing Markets.

(Glen Carbon, IL) FASTechnology Group (FASTech), a pioneering force in the commercial printing market since 1989, is formally aligning with Graph-Tech USA (GTUS) to usher in a new era of innovation for the CP finishing and mailing industry. 

This exciting partnership promises to address the growing demand for “market relevant” cutting-edge controllers/inkjets and plug the gap left by legacy inkjet suppliers who have shifted their focus to other vertical market sectors. 

A long history in the commercial printing & inkjet controller market. 

FASTech, originally formed as Digi-Gear Systems (a multi-sector, full-service industrial control systems integrator), has a storied history of providing over 1,000 top-notch integrated solutions for commercial printing finishing. After a mutually highly successful run and eventual merger with Domino in 1994, they reacquired their core CP finishing technology and IP in 2000. FASTech then went on to develop next generation controller technology and innovations that subsequently dominated the CP sector for two decades.

In 2017, a corporate strategic pivot by FASTech facilitated a legacy bindery controller technology divestiture, and with FASTech shifting primary focus to custom controls, electronic panels and CPG packaging equipment solutions.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Graph-Tech AG, headquartered in Zofingen, Switzerland, began crafting controllers in 1989 for the European market, resulting in thousands of installs globally. Domino Printing acquired a stake in 2000 and eventually secured full ownership in 2012. Graph-Tech USA (GTUS) was founded in 2002 in Fort Pierce, Florida, and in 2013 initiated an independent endeavor to pioneer the next generation of controllers and inkjets. 

There is a major need for new relevant inkjet printers in commercial printing &mailing.

The US commercial printing and mailing industries face a pressing need for modernized, practical inkjet and finishing controller equipment to replace aging technology. In response to this demand, FASTech has sought a dynamic solution and found it by strategically aligning with GTUS. This partnership leverages FASTech’s full-service offerings and sector experience, veteran sales channels, and client support infrastructure. 

Strategically positioned in the heart of the US commercial printing and mailing hub, FASTech and Graph-Tech USA combined can leverage well-established controller foundations and a growing portfolio of the newest inkjet technology. The combined entities can subsequently serve clients more effectively and capitalize on efficient sales and support channels. 

Besides the core commercial printing and mailing sectors, the combined entities plan to extend out into high value-add labeling, RFID, and personalized mag-strip card printing, and deepen their growing presence in the packaging industry, and certainly focusing on new sustainable, efficient inkjet technologies with quick ROIs.

Joe Hattrup, Founder and a Strategic Director for FASTech, expressed his excitement about the collaboration:

“In view of the rapidly evolving market demands and inherent commoditization within the CP sector, both FASTech and Graph-Tech USA have concluded that by joining forces, we can jointly better serve clients, extend our combined reach, and quickly expand into exciting, related growth sectors. Together, we can bring the right CP finishing control and imaging technology and effectively implement a complete solution for each application.”

Markus Portmann, President of GTUS, underscored the synergy between the two companies:

“The synergy between both companies is obvious: we design and manufacture controllers and inkjets, and FASTech sells and supports them in the US commercial printing market. There is an installed base of over 4,000 GT controllers that are poised for modernization and upgrades. It is key to have a partner like FASTech who knows the customers and their needs. A win-win-win.” 

(Partnership Leadership Team: GTUS-Markus Portmann, CEO; FASTech-James Hattrup President/CEO, Ralph French CTO, Tim Miller COO, Norman Roeber National Sales Director, Joseph Hattrup Founder-Strategic Director)

PACK Expo (PMMI Show) Was Virtual But 2 To 18 Lane Stick Pack & Checkweighers Are Still Live!

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Since we missed you at Pack Expo this year, here is a virtual show of how we can meet your packaging production needs. Stick Pack machines ranging from 2 lane to 18 lane with 80 to 720 sticks per minute throughput. Each being accurately checked by the automated checkweigher with feedback to the filler. Give us a call 866-FASTech (866-327-3324) to find out more.

https://packexpo19.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=02022459

See FASTech’s UPC Verification System Case Study in Control Engineering Magazine

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FASTechnology Group adds UPC Verification to Flexible Packaging (Bagging) Machines in Packaging Industry

Challenge: Supplement existing machines with an efficient, robust system to verify the correct pre-printed packaging is used for the product being packaged, 100% of the time.

Solution: Using the latest in PLC controls, HMI, and machine vision technology, as well as custom software and database development, FASTechnology Group created a system to read, compare and verify the UPC barcode of each and every product made against the plant’s ERP system.

Result: A system that integrates seamlessly with the existing production lines, monitoring the necessary aspects to improve line consistency and make mismatching of product to packaging a thing of the past.

Summary: In the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, a simple mismatch of pre-printed package to product can quickly spiral into a safety concern for consumers, not to mention countless dollars lost on wasted products, recalls, and downtime. For example, a packaging line cannot have peanuts going into a potato chip bag. The risks of only checking the spool of film prior to running the line doesn’t always cut it. When FASTechnology Group was tasked with modifying existing production lines to verify the UPC of each and every bag, the company was able to use the latest in industrial controls across a wide array of technologies to deliver a solution to the customer.

The system combines an industrial logic controller, a machine vision barcode reader, and custom server-side software to cross-reference the physical UPC with the one in the Plant Management Software.  As one of FASTech’s customers states: “Using this system, we are able to limit the pulling of jobs down from the plant management system to only those scheduled for the current shift. This keeps the user interface out on the plant floor clean, simple to use, and efficient.”

Here is a link to the original Case Study…

FASTech_UPC_Verification_CaseStudy

Unique Scannable QR Codes are easy to add to existing production set up

FASTechnology Group Receives U.S. Patent

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FOR PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL, UNIQUE, SCANNABLE QR CODES ON EACH PACKAGE

We are pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded our company patent, (No. US 2015-0102100 A1), for our database systems and methods for consumer packaged goods.

Our patent covers a system for handling product packages for use with a QR code-scanning device and includes a package-handling device and a printer that prints unique, individual, scannable QR codes on each package. This system also includes a database that stores data records of package parameters, linked to one, non-sequential URL; an enabler configured to link to the printer to generate the individual QR codes; a loader configured to link to the enabler and the portals to the database for adding package parameters and accessing package information.

 “Receiving the PACKprint patent is an important milestone for our company and the industry,” says Joe Hattrup, President and CEO of FASTechnology Group. “With PACKprint, the drive for personalized customer engagement is now affordable and accessible to all companies, regardless of size or location.”

The variable PACKprint code on your package lets you share information like product trace ability and recalls, coupons, contests and campaigns with your customers.  This is an added value to our packaging machinery and integration expertise.

Contact Ryan McCord directly at 618.692.9797 ext. 427 or by email  ryan.mccord@fastechgroup.com to learn how easy and affordable it is to bring personalized customer engagement to your organization.

 

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Vision Tools Speed Development of IMB Postal Barcode Verifier

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Vision Tools Speed Development of IMB Postal Barcode Verifier

29 October 2010

The new Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) has all but replaced the old POSTNET and PLANET barcodes used in United States Postal Service (USPS) automation. FASTechnology Group, already the leading developer and supplier of high-speed selective binding and mailing controllers used to address large mailings, anticipated the need for an inspection system that would validate the quality and conformity of IMBs to help mailers avoid potential additional charges. FASTech used the Cognex In-Sight® 5613 because it provides powerful tools for IMB verification and automation control connectivity that greatly reduced development time. As a result, the FASTverify Postal Verification System is the first system that not only verifies the readability and critical metrics of the bar code but also verifies that it is the right barcode.

FASTech previously offered vision systems for other barcode-based applications. Instead of simply using the same vision systems in the new product, the company decided to evaluate products from the leading vision suppliers. “We determined that we could develop our product in substantially less time using Cognex In-Sight vision systems,” said Mark Breunig, VP Product Development for FASTech. “Cognex offers a full set of built-in IMB verification tools that make it possible to program the vision system to verify IMB compliance with just a few simple commands. Cognex connectivity tools make it easier to integrate Cognex vision systems into existing automation control systems.”

The Read ID code command is used to read the IMB. The value is matched against information provided by the controller to make sure the correct code has been applied and is also used to create the file name used to store the IMB image. Next, the Verify ID command is used to generate the IMB verification metrics. All of the parameters needed to ensure the IMB meets USPS requirements are verified. The vision program compares each of these figures to the USPS IMB specifications and warning parameters and determines if the code passes, passes but exceeds warning limits, or fails. The value of the code is passed to the user interface which checks it against the controller database to ensure that the right code has been printed.

We were able to develop the application in a remarkably short period of time,” Breunig concluded. “The cameras and software that we have used in the past to develop vision applications could have done this job but it would have been more difficult and taken considerably more time. Cognex vision tools helped us quickly bring a product to market that is the first in the IMB verification space to offer a number of important capabilities. Our system is the first to provide the ability to not only verify that the IMB is produced to specifications but also to verify that the right code has been printed on the mailer. The FASTverify Postal Verification System is also one of the first systems with one button calibration and the capability to inspect every single piece of mail produced by today’s high-speed selective binding and co-mailing systems with full image archival capability”

For further information, please contact:

Cognex UK Ltd
Sunningdale House
43 Caldecotte Lake Drive
Caldecotte Lake Business Park
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK7 8LF

Tel: 01908 206 000
Fax: 01908 392 463
Email: sales@cognex.co.uk
Web: www.cognex.com