Sheetfed Aegis AB Dick

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 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.

Stationery
At one time, letterheads were a dominant source of profit for thermographers. The introduction of laser printers had a devastating effect on this market as traditional thermography melted in high speed copiers and laser printers. In spite of the fact that "laser proof" thermography powders have been introduced many customers continue to shy away from thermography.

Even some foil stamping can be affected by the heat generated in laser printers. Blind embossing was another "added value" feature offered as a substitute for thermography or foil, but embossed sheets may "nest" in the paper tray, creating feeding problems.

As a result, many customers have gone back to flat printed letterheads. As any print shop can produce flat letterheads, competitive pricing has cut profits to practically non-existent levels.

THERM-O-TYPE took the view that the market for "high end" letterhead work was still out there. What was needed was a letterhead process that would provide an enhanced image for the customer, and would be compatible with laser printers.

The new watermark process, produced by THERM-O-TYPE, allows custom watermarks to be created easily, even in small quantities, with relatively low cost equipment and materials. This process is 100% compatible with laser printers and high speed copiers and can be combined with flat printing, thermography, foil stamping, blind and foil embossing.

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.