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Watermarks are traditionally produced in a paper mill. The
image to be watermarked on the paper is affixed to a special roller called a
"dandy" roll. Because of the dandy roll expense and the high cost of setting up
and running a custom watermark, paper mills normally will only produce them with a large
minimum paper order. Some mills will produce smaller quantities, however this paper is
typically very expensive. Either way, it often takes several months for a mill to produce
a custom watermark order. With mill produced custom watermarks , no sample of the finished
product can be shown to the customer, so printers taking a watermark order have to accept
the risk that their customer will be satisfied with the end result.
A new watermark process called "Aegis" has been introduced by
THERM-O-TYPE to overcome the delays and expense of buying custom watermarked paper. The
Aegis process consists of special equipment and chemicals that create a simulated
watermark on paper. In fact, the chemical created watermark process is so good that it is
considered indistinguishable from an original, mill generated watermark.
Advantages of the Aegis Watermark process:
1. Suitable for short and long run.
2. Very cost effective as the chemicals and dies are inexpensive.
3. The watermark is immediately visible on the sheet, simplifying quality control.
4. A sample of the watermark can be provided within a few days for customer
approval. If changes are
required, a new die can be produced quickly and inexpensively.
5. Mills can take months to complete an order. The new process takes only days.
6. Added advantage to corporate customers: Why advertise the paper manufacturer? Why
not
advertise the customer?
7. With mill made watermarked paper, the customer or the printer may have to hold
large stocks of
paper due to the minimum order quantity and the long lead
time. With the Aegis process, paper
can be purchased and watermarked as required, reducing
inventory and improving cash flow.
8. Custom watermarks can be used to enhance document security.
9. Often, the watermark can be applied as the paper is being
printed.
Security
Banks and businesses are defrauded of BILLIONS of dollars each year, in the
United States alone, by counterfeiting and document fraud. This huge financial loss has
created a strong demand for effective and affordable security features.
Illustrating the high demand for "passive"
security features on checks and forms can be seen in the form of holographic foil
imprinting. However, holographic foil is expensive to purchase and apply, making it
unsuitable for many security applications.
The introduction of custom watermark technology from
THERM-O-TYPE provides an excellent passive security feature which can be economically
applied to a wide variety of cut-sheet checks, continuous checks and other documents.
Original contracts and legal papers are another area where watermarked paper can provide
security from fraudulent page or entire document substitution.
Marketing Aegis
Aegis is a new technology which provides a marketable and profitable
capability in many different areas of the graphic arts industry. Used as a security
feature on documents, or as a visual enhancement on a business or personal letterhead, an
Aegis watermark adds a unique and powerful design element.
Experience has shown that marketing Aegis watermarks
requires a commitment to customer education. Samples are the key to showing customers the
impact that can be created with a custom watermark.
While Aegis is relatively new, our customers seem to agree
that, with the introduction of Aegis technology, the market for custom watermarking will
grow quickly and offers exceptional profit potential.
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