SHEETFED PRESSES -- Sizing Up the Options

Automating the Big Dogs

This trend is being driven by the productivity a shop can get out of a large-format press today that it couldn't get five years ago, McKinney continues. "Five years ago, a 60˝-plus press had none of the automation features or speed of a current model. Developments have now gotten to the point where, if you compare a 64˝ to a 40˝ sheetfed, the running speeds are almost the same, the print quality is the same, the manning requirement is basically the same because of automation, and you are pumping out double the page production of a 40˝ press."