QuadTech aims to make off-line a thing of the past

The new high-definition viewing capability facilitates easy on-the-fly detection of dot abnormalities such as pin-holing, bridging, doughnuts and halos. Images are captured at 2500dpi and made instantly accessible through the ICONTM user interface, so that dot quality detail can be analysed by the human eye as soon as ink is transferred to the substrate.

‘SpectralCam HD provides an instant means of identifying dot abnormalities that until now could only have been discovered by stopping production and analysing a magnified sample of printed work offline. The operator has reassurance that dot abnormalities will be detected to a much higher standard than was previously possible, without compromising production up-time levels,’ comments Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech.

The enhanced viewing capability enables print operators to react faster to changes in pressure or plate anomalies and take appropriate remedial action in a shorter time, thereby reducing material waste and reject levels.

SpectralCam HD is likely to be of particular benefit in flexible packaging printing situations, where the ability to view dot profiles is paramount, and to operators of central impression-flexo presses, which require significant pressure adjustment. The device performs at up to 1076 m/min (3500 ft/min) and is capable of working with a wide range of paper and film substrates.

Another innovation found in the Color Measurement System is a web stabilising unit that allows precise spectral colour measurement of transparent and opaque films on-the-fly without risk of substrate corrugation.

The web stabiliser device consists of a flat-top, low-friction platform, on to which the moving web is momentarily stabilised by suction, to enable colour measurement over two ceramic tiles: one black, to measure opacity, and one white, to measure transparency. The tiles meet the British Ceramic Research Association (BCRA) ceramic colour standard, guaranteeing a long-term constant backing value The tile assembly is removable for easy cleaning.

The substrate is sucked into contact with the tile, in order to take colour readings without wrinkles, bubbles and shadows that may result in distortion. Suction occurs when a vacuum is created around the tiles, by pumping pulses of high-pressure air through a channel and out through small holes along the side of the tile. After being held for no more than the few milliseconds necessary to take a reading, the substrate is released. The low friction-coefficient of the contact area prevents scratching or scuffing of either the surface area or substrate. Multiple targets can be captured at one time.

The web stabiliser device provides an alternative to white rollers whose large surface areas are prone to contamination, difficult to clean, and fail to give a constant backing solution.

Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech, commented, ‘In package print, the need to measure colour off-line is a major barrier to achieving lean production management. With the Color Measurement System, we empower packaging printers to achieve optimum spectral colour quality without interruption to the printing run, whatever the substrate or application, and further drive waste out of the workflow.’

Versatile spaces in McLean

It may seem necessary to drive dozens of miles outside the District’s city limits to find a hidden oasis of privacy and

quiet - but sometimes, the most serene places can be found within minutes of the city’s borders.

The home at 1707 James Payne Circle in McLean, on the market for $1,197,500, offers a peaceful retreat from daily life

hidden beneath a canopy of trees. Built in 1968 and meticulously maintained and modernized, this home provides seemingly

endless places to enjoy outdoor living along with flexible rooms indoors for myriad activities. The owners have

landscaped the property for low-maintenance living as well as maximum privacy.

Just minutes from downtown Washington and the shops and amenities of McLean, this all-brick home in the Chesterbrook

Hills area easily blends traditional style and contemporary flair. Sited on .35 acre, the home has a landscaped front

yard with mature trees and a meandering stone path that leads to the two-car garage and the brick front courtyard, which

sits low enough below the street for privacy and is semienclosed by brick walls. The courtyard has a brick patio and an

Italian-style water fountain.

A wood deck wraps around the back and two sides of the main level, while a wood balcony off the master suite provides a

private outdoor space for the owners. Another brick patio is located off the back of the lower level.

Double front doors open from the courtyard into the home, which has hardwood flooring throughout most of the main level.

To the right of the foyer is a library with built-in bookcases and cabinets on two walls. The windows in the library and

the rest of the main level have custom-built plantation shutters.

In front of the foyer, a double door opens into the formal living room, which has a wood-stove insert in the fireplace

and French doors to the deck. Double doors open from the living room into the formal dining room, which has dentil crown

molding, wainscoting and a stained-glass chandelier. French doors link the dining room with the deck, a swing door links

the room to the kitchen, and a second set of French doors opens from the dining room into the family room. The family

room has a beamed ceiling, an oversized gas fireplace and French doors opening onto the deck.

At the front of the home is the renovated gourmet kitchen, accessible from the foyer, dining room and family room.

Remodeled in 2010, the kitchen includes sleek black-painted wood cabinets, open shelving, granite counters, ceramic tile

flooring, upgraded stainless steel appliances and an oversized skylight. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and opens

to a breakfast area with windows facing the front courtyard. Adjacent to the kitchen is a powder room with crown molding

and ceramic tile flooring.

Past the kitchen is almost a separate wing of the main level that includes three large rooms with flexible uses. The

first room is being used as a home office and includes a double-door closet plus French doors that open into the sunroom.

The sunroom has ceramic tile flooring, a wall of windows, a free-standing wood stove and a second set of French doors

that open into a card room or sitting room. The sunroom has transoms above all the windows and doors and is currently

used as an exercise room.

An exit to the front of the home allows this space to function well as a home office for people who have visitors to

their office. Alternatively, the area can be used as a playroom or children’s study, an art studio or simply for

additional rooms for entertaining friends and family.

The upper level originally had four bedrooms and easily could be reconfigured to that floor plan. For now, the master

suite includes a separate sitting room with a ceiling fan and a double-door closet, along with a window overlooking the

backyard. The owners will replace the wall between the master bedroom and master sitting room to re-create the fourth

bedroom if the buyers prefer.

The master bedroom has a glass door to a private balcony overlooking the front courtyard. The suite includes a dressing

room with a door to an oversized walk-in closet with built-ins. The luxurious master bath has ceramic tile flooring, a

glass-enclosed shower with a seat and a granite counter on the vanity.

The upper level has two more bedrooms, each with a double-door closet. These bedrooms share a renovated full bath with

ceramic tile flooring. The hall includes a linen closet and a storage closet.

The finished lower level includes a spacious bedroom with two double-door closets and a walk-in closet. This level also

has a recreation room with French doors to the patio, a gas fireplace and plenty of space for a seating area and two

separate game areas. Adjacent to the recreation room is a kitchenette with granite counters, a dishwasher, a wine cooler,

a refrigerator, a microwave and multiple cabinets.

The lower level also has a sauna, a full bath with a deep soaking tub, a cedar closet and an oversized laundry room with

ceramic tile flooring, a sink and cabinets. At the opposite end of this level is a workshop and storage room with French

doors to the patio.

School officials getting plenty of input on cuts

Proposals to close a $3.75 million gap in the Grand Island Public Schools budget provide

something for everybody to hate.

"Hate" is probably too strong a word considering the civility that has been part of the

debate so far, although it is clear that nobody likes the proposed cuts.

The district started off with a deficit of $12.8 million that it needed to close. Cutting the

first $8 million to $9 million caused little outcry, but it is the final several million

dollars, which are affecting personnel, that has caused more debate.

The Independent asked permission to see the e-mails with the understanding that e-mailers

would be called to see if they would be willing to share their views in the newspaper. While

many people were passionate in their views, everybody was very civil, both in the 39 e-mails

submitted and also in the few interviews The Independent was able to conduct.

Gary Swallow, who said he worked at a manufacturing plant for 37 years, including 10 years as

plant manager, said his e-mail suggested cutting administrators, not classroom teachers.

Swallow said he did not believe that administrators have as big an impact on what happens in

the classroom as teachers, and that is one reason he favors cutting administrative personnel.

He also said administrators make more money than teachers, so a reduction eliminating one

administrator saves more money than eliminating one teacher.

He said he was not impressed that central office administrators have offered to have their

salaries frozen for the coming year. He said that prevents costs from rising, but it does not

lower costs to help close the deficit.

Kris McElligott is another person who questions whether enough has been done to cut

administrative costs, specifically at central administration.

When questioned by The Independent, Finance Director Virgil Harden said the district has the

right to issue reduction-in-force notices to building principals, as well as to teaching

staff. He noted the RIF notices that have already have been publicly discussed include a

half-time elementary principal.

Harden said he believes the superintendent would have the right to trim personnel in the

central office. Any administrative change would need approval or at least acquiescence by the

school board.

Harden also was questioned on whether the school district could unilaterally cut

administrative pay. After thinking the question through, Harden said he believes interim

Superintendent Harrison Cass could propose a cut in pay for both central office and building

administrators. He said pay cuts would have to be approved by a vote of the school board, who

would have earlier voted to approve the existing pay packages.

The district theoretically could cut that pay because administrators are not organized as a

formal bargaining group like the Grand Island Education Association.

But Harden said that might be a short-term solution with long-term consequences. He said

employees who have seen their pay cut could be motivated to form a bargaining unit to protect

themselves in the future.

The current situation for the Grand Island school district is that central office

administrators have offered to freeze their salaries for the coming year. GIPS classified

staff members have made the same offer.

Despite that pay freeze offer from classified staff, 8.84 FTE paraprofessionals with the

Grand Island school district are being laid off, Harden said.

While McElligott joined Swallow – and other e-mailers – in concern over administrative

costs, the original issue that prompted her e-mail was the proposal to cut back the amount of

time devoted to middle school math instruction, as well as the proposal to integrate the

middle school technology program with science.

McElligott said middle school is a critical time for math instruction. She said her concern

is that only the best math students will be able to grasp the increasingly difficult math

concepts introduced in middle school, while more students will struggle.

As a result, McElligott is worried that fewer middle school students will go on to take the

higher level math courses at Senior High, which can end with some students taking AP

calculus. She said a greater number of students will opt to take the less demanding math

track in high school because they spent less time on math while in middle school.

McElligott also objected to integrating middle school technology with science because she

believes it could hinder student achievement in both subject areas. She said the applied

science and applied math in middle school technology courses can help students decide if they

want to pursue careers such as engineering.

She said the middle school modules in technology give students hands-on experience in areas

such as robotics. McElligott said another concern is that the district's investment in the

technology modules will go to waste if technology and science are integrated.

She questioned why the district is cutting back on middle school technology instruction at

the same time it is planning on greatly expanded career and technology education (CTE) course

offerings at Senior High.

If middle school students somehow manage to get all the technology they need, then McElligott

said there is a danger those students will need to learn all the basic science they need to

know.

McElligott said a secondary issue for her is that it seems as though the cuts to athletic

programs are not balanced. She wondered why school officials are considering eliminating the

swim program – which is a relatively low-cost sport – and not making bigger cuts in the

more expensive sports programs.

Mikki Vlach and her husband were among several swim parents who sent e-mails to the school

district asking that the high school swim team not be eliminated. During an interview, Vlach

said their 10-year-old daughter, Izzy, is on the Quicksilver swim team.

Vlach believes her daughter will stay interested in the sport all the way through high

school, a view she also noted in her e-mail when she wrote, "she (Izzy) is already talking

about being a member of the high school swim team even though she has only been swimming for

a year."

Vlach said swim team is a relatively low-cost program, so she questioned the proposal to end

it. Because the sport is a cooperative program involving several schools, Vlach also wondered

whether other school districts could make a greater financial contribution to the program.

It sometimes seems as though the school district focuses its resources on "at-risk" students

to the detriment of motivated students like the ones on the Quicksilver team, who have swim

practice four days per week, 10 months per year, Vlach said.

Another proposal before the board is to cut fifth-grade band and orchestra. At the time, the

proposal was presented as simply delaying student participation in band and orchestra for one

year. But Walnut Middle School band instructor John Schultz was part of an e-mail that

reminded everyone of a possible unintended consequence of the delay.

Under the current system, band and orchestra teachers travel from building to building to

give lessons to small groups of students who are just learning how to play a band instrument

or string instrument, Schultz said. But those small groups add up to big numbers. During the

current school year, 374 fifth-graders began learning how to play a band instrument and 85

students began learning how to play a string instrument.

Those fifth-graders are spread over 14 elementary schools. But as sixth-graders, those

students would be concentrated in just three middle schools, creating problems both in terms

of staffing and perhaps physical space.

"Teaching beginning students in small groups leads to a better chance of success," Schultz

said.