Quad Is Big Spender at Drupa

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—While attending Drupa 2004, Quad/Graphics committed to purchasing a total of 10 64-page web presses from exhibiting press manufacturers Heidelberg and MAN Roland.

Specifically on order, at an aggregate value of $150 million, are eight Heidelberg 3000/32 double-web presses and two MAN Roland Lithoman double-web presses. Both models boast a 64-page format, making them particularly well suited for high-speed, high-quality magazine and catalog production.

"Efficiency and flexibility are mission critical to meeting our clients' needs," says Thomas Quadracci, Quad/Graphics president and CEO. "We're confident that the 64-page presses' ability to double output, while reducing makereadies, will meet our productivity requirements going forward and further cement our competitive advantage."

All 10 presses will be installed at various Quad/Graphics locations over the next three years and will be equipped with a variety of QuadTech-designed auxiliary controls, including the closed-loop Color Control System with System Brunner interface, Register Guidance System, Ribbon Control System and vertical stackers/bundlers, among other computerized components.

The bindery was also a source of interest for Quad, resulting in the purchase of nine Heidelberg finishing systems: six Universal binders and three Pacesetter 1100 saddlestitchers. The finishing equipment, valued at an aggregate of $50 million, will further advance the printer's extensive finishing capabilities.

Both the binders and the stitchers have the ability to finish up to 20,000 books per hour and have complete selective binding and ink-jet personalization (up to 128 lines) capabilities.

The Pacesetter 1100 saddlestitchers, which reportedly will be the first to be put into live production in the world, feature independent servo-driven pockets for expedited makereadies. Furthermore, the stitchers include a new user interface for simplified operation, further enhancing their overall productivity.

Among the perfect binders' features are four cover decks complete with an in-line, releasable cover wrap application. The finishing systems will be installed throughout Quad/Graphics' nationwide network of facilities during the next 18 months.