Presses Remain the Key Attraction at drupa and in 2008 Printers will not be Disappointed

However the smaller printers around the world really face the choice between going digital or remaining with litho. The DI presses from Presstek and Screen present an interesting mid way point particularly as Presstek is planning to show a four page DI press. More printers will be drawn to the Heidelberg Anicolor. There is warm speculation that the 52cm format size will be joined by a larger press at drupa as the concept is proving is worth in a wide range of printers. In the Anicolor the conventional 18-roller ink train is replaced by just two rollers the same size as the plate cylinder. At every rotation the plate is fed the right amount of ink using an anilox roller rather than ink keys. There is almost no colour correction needed as the press faithfully reproduces what is on the plate. Conventional inks, plates and fount solutions are used, giving all the cost advantages that litho printers enjoy over users of toner machines. The great advantage, however, is that make ready times are cut by around 50% and waste generated is cut by 90%. This makes the Anicolor highly competitive with digital presses on short run work, while much more cost effective as print runs climb. Bernhard Schreier already expects the Anicolor to be one of the key presentations at drupa, adding that “we will be presenting numerous additional offerings and solutions in Düsseldorf that are set to further improve the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of our clients’ operations”.