Higher Gloss. Less Coating. Greater Efficiency.
In today's offset printing industry, profitability is driven by more than press speed. Success depends on efficiency, consistency, and the ability to deliver exceptional print quality while controlling operating costs.
For many offset printers, coatings represent one of the largest consumable expenses in the pressroom. When gloss levels, coating appearance, or overall finish fail to meet expectations, the common response is to increase coating volume.
However, applying more coating does not always improve results.
Coating performance is not simply determined by how much coating is applied. It is determined by how effectively that coating is transferred from the anilox roll to the substrate.When transfer efficiency is compromised, additional coating may only increase material consumption without delivering the desired finish.
The Challenge with Conventional Anilox Engravings
For decades, traditional hexagonal-cell engravings have been the industry standard for offset coating applications. While proven and widely used, these engravings can introduce microscopic air pockets into the 
coating film during transfer.
These trapped air bubbles may contribute to:
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Pinholes
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Micro-foaming
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Inconsistent gloss levels
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Sheet-to-sheet variation
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Orange peel effect
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Uneven coating appearance
To compensate, many printers apply more coating in an effort to achieve the desired gloss or surface finish. While this approach may temporarily improve appearance, it also increases coating consumption, operating costs, and process variability.
A Different Approach: Apex GTT® Technology
At Apex International, we believed there was a better way.
That belief led to the development of Genetic Transfer Technology (GTT®), a fundamentally different approach to coating transfer.
Unlike conventional engravings that rely on individual cells, GTT utilizes a patented open-channel engraving 
structure designed to:
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Promote smoother coating flow
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Reduce air entrapment
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Improve coating release
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Deliver a more uniform transfer to the sheet
The result is a smoother, more consistent coating film that allows more of the applied coating to contribute directly to the desired visual outcome.
Achieve Higher Gloss with Less Coating
Improved transfer efficiency can have a significant impact on both print quality and operating costs.
Rather than increasing coating volume to compensate for transfer limitations, many printers using GTT technology achieve the same, or even higher, gloss levels while using significantly less coating.
Customer evaluations and production trials have demonstrated coating consumption reductions of up to 15%, while simultaneously improving gloss performance and overall coating appearance.
For facilities running high coating volumes, these savings can translate into substantial annual cost reductions without compromising print quality.
Improve Print Quality and Consistency
The benefits of GTT extend beyond coating savings.
A smoother and more uniform coating film helps deliver:
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Higher gloss consistency
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Improved surface appearance -
Reduced coating defects
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Enhanced visual quality
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Greater sheet-to-sheet consistency
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More predictable production performance
Whether producing folding cartons, premium packaging, commercial print, soft-touch finishes, tactile coatings, or specialty effects, printers benefit from a more stable and repeatable coating process.
Just as importantly, operators spend less time making adjustments throughout the production run, helping maintain consistent quality while improving overall press productivity.
Reduce Maintenance and Increase Press Uptime
Operational efficiency is another key advantage of GTT technology.
Because the open-channel engraving structure is inherently more resistant to plugging than conventional engravings, printers frequently experience:
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Easier cleaning
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Reduced maintenance requirements
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Less downtime
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More stable production performance
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Longer run consistency
Many facilities also discover that a single GTT profile can replace multiple conventional anilox specifications, simplifying inventory management and reducing pressroom complexity.
Lower Costs While Supporting Sustainability
Using less coating delivers benefits beyond direct material savings.
Reducing coating consumption helps minimize waste, improve material utilization, and support sustainability initiatives without sacrificing print quality. For many printers, improving transfer efficiency contributes to both financial performance and environmental objectives.
A Faster Return on Investment
Together, these improvements create measurable operational and financial value.
Unlike many capital investments that require extensive process changes, GTT technology begins delivering measurable results from the first production run.
Printers can quickly evaluate:
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Coating consumption
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Gloss performance
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Print quality
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Process stability
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Material savings
This allows operations to quantify the financial impact using their own coatings, substrates, and production conditions, often resulting in a faster return on investment than anticipated.
Experience GTT on Your Own Press
The best way to evaluate coating performance is under real production conditions.
That's why Apex International offers a Try Before You Buy Banded Roll Program.
By testing multiple GTT profiles on your own press using your own coatings and substrates, you can directly compare coating transfer efficiency, gloss performance, print quality, and coating consumption before making an investment decision.
Rather than relying on assumptions or laboratory testing, you gain measurable production data specific to your operation.
The Future of Offset Coating
The future of offset coating is not about applying more material. It is about transferring coating more efficiently.
It is about transferring coating more efficiently.
With GTT® technology, offset printers can achieve:
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Higher gloss levels
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Reduced coating consumption
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Improved coating transfer
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Enhanced print quality
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Fewer coating defects
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Simplified anilox inventories
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Reduced maintenance requirements
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Greater pressroom efficiency
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More sustainable production
All from a single technology platform. Higher Gloss. Less Coating. Greater Efficiency. That's the power of Apex GTT® technology.
Ready to See GTT in Action?
If you're looking to improve gloss, reduce coating consumption, simplify your coating process, and increase pressroom efficiency, the best place to start is on your own press.
Contact Apex International today to learn more about our Try Before You Buy Banded Roll Program and discover how GTT® technology can help your operation reduce coating costs while improving print quality, consistency, and overall production performance.
