X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, announced that its Autura™ Ink has received the PRINTING United Alliance 2024 Pinnacle Award for Color Management and Quality Control. This award recognizes products that significantly enhance the printing industry through exceptional quality, capability, and productivity.
Autura Ink is a cloud-native solution designed to streamline ink development. It provides a centralized platform for formulation, storage, approval, retrieval, and quality control for offset, flexo, gravure, and screen-printing inks. “Autura Ink represents a paradigm shift in ink development, management, and quality control,” said Ming-Pong Liu, Software Solutions Product Manager at X-Rite. “By consolidating critical processes into a single platform, ink suppliers, manufacturers, and converters can fast track their ink development, minimize press downtime, and reduce press returns.”
The platform facilitates seamless data sharing between formulation, quality control, and PantoneLIVE. Users no longer need to switch between applications to validate formulas, which is done within the Autura platform. It also integrates with X-Rite spectrophotometers, including the eXact 2 Family, to create a connected workflow and enhance efficiency.
Autura Ink enables press operators to quickly identify ink variations and minimize downtime due to color mismatches. The integrated BestMatch™ feature allows operators to determine if an ink is within specification or if adjustments are needed. If the on-press color does not meet specifications, the Quick Correct feature facilitates ink formula adjustments to bring the press back on color quickly and reduce press returns. The platform also supports a more sustainable approach to print production by promoting the reuse of materials.
Dawn Nye, Pinnacle Awards Program Manager at PRINTING United Alliance, highlighted the rigorous evaluation process for the awards. “One of the things I like best about our competition is that it is juried, and judges are basing their decisions on objective criteria. And, with outstanding entries like X-Rite Autura Ink, they had their work cut out for them.”
The Pinnacle Product Awards celebrate innovations that advance the printing industry, and Autura Ink’s recognition underscores its potential to significantly improve ink development and quality control processes.