WOA 50th ANNIVERSARY -- Web's Balancing Act

"These advances have brought quantum leaps in throughput," Field continues. "One new Heidelberg Sunday press can equal three older presses in productivity. The older machines have not been taken out of service, though, thereby creating an abundance of capacity versus demand."

Market Pressures

The competitive picture is further complicated by the fact that new technology is making it impossible for older systems to be financially competitive, the Continental Web exec says. Market pressures will force well-run, established printers that still have older presses to consolidate with other operations to remain viable and profitable, Field asserts.