MAKING LUCKY WINNERS

PRINTING TECHNOLOGY: Danish manufacturer of printing machines, Tresu Production, has developed the world’s largest and most complex machine for printing lottery tickets and scratchcards

For some it means the squeal of joy. For more it’s the indifference of disappointment. But either way there are very few who ever take a closer look at the scratchcard after the hidden panels have been revealed.

“In terms of printing technology and security, most scratchcards are like banknotes,” says Allan Sander, senior sales manager of Tresu Production in Denmark. And he knows what he is talking about. Tresu Production has recently supplied one of the world’s largest of these special printing machines to an American customer who makes scratch cards for gambling providers worldwide.

Fulfilling exacting requirements
“With its 19 printing units, the machine is one of the world’s largest and most complex printing machines,” says Allan Sander. “It is able to print paper on both sides at the rate of 300 metres per minute, with several variations including gold and glitter.” The reason why the machine “only” prints at 300 metres per minute, while still being the fastest and most effective of its kind, is due to the extremely high security requirements for scratchcards. Immediately after printing the winning numbers and symbols, the scratch fields are coated with four layers of a special latex. Additional layers make it impossible to shine a light through the cards, and they are also made anti-magnetic. The printing of the number and symbol combinations is carried out via computer controlled inkjet printer units.

Supplying packaging for foods
“We attach importance to productivity, flexibility and a good working environment around the machine,” says Allan Sander. “This involves fast changeovers and minimizing waste of material and resources. We have also developed very powerful drying machines, which can be individually adjusted on each printing unit. This naturally helps to optimise production.” development of large printing ma-scratchcards is because of many years of experi- flexible printing ma-packaging industry. The manufacturer of packag- products, Sweden’s major purchaser of Tresu’s printing machine has reshipped to Tetra Pak’s new and twenty-eight 40-containing a complete machine were USA.

The development of large printing machines for scratchcards is because of Tresu Production’s many years of experience in developing flexible printing machines for the packaging industry. The world’s largest manufacturer of packaging for liquid food products, Sweden’s Tetra Pak, is a major purchaser of Tresu’s machines. A printing machine has recently been shipped to Tetra Pak’s new printer in China, and twenty-eight 40- foot containers containing a complete scratchcard printing machine were shipped to the USA.

http://www.tresu.com