Offset Printing - Sheet-Fed

FLYING CARS and colonies in space were once seriously predicted to be a reality by now. Closer to home, though, experts also said that Adobe Photoshop and the Mac would never be acceptable for professional graphic arts applications. Any attempt to predict the course of technological development amounts to an educated guess at best. Even once a prototype has been developed, the scale-up to volume production can be problematic. Often, it is an unexpected development that leads to success. Printed electronics, security printing and lenticular are three technological developments that may hold opportunities for commercial printers. Each is still a work in process to

THINK OF a sheetfed offset UV press as a chemistry set for grownups, complete with an ever-shifting set of variables and a hands-on learning curve. The upside of that curve is the license to print an endless range of special effects impossible to achieve with conventional inks and coatings. And the downside? There isn’t one, according to a growing number of practitioners that may have assayed the market with a vague notion of value-added, then stayed once it became apparent what a mastery of UV techniques could mean to their competitive position and their bottom line. UV printing is not for the faint

After printing, applying drying powder to the delivered sheets creates an air gap between them that prevents offsetting—the transfer of ink from the freshly printed sheet to the reverse side of the sheet above it. Blocking (sheets sticking together) also is eliminated. But using too much powder reduces gloss and scuff resistance, impairs finishing processes, and may lead to an unwanted buildup in the press. Tips for correct use: apply minimal amounts of powder with a grain diameter of at least 0.015 mm and a low proportion of fine dust. In jobs involving multiple passes, use only powder containing starch—mineral-based powder can wear away the

WASHINGTON, DC—10/12/07—KBA North America, a leading press manufacturer based in Williston, VT, is announcing that Mosaic, a premier waterless print communication company specializing in Commercial, Digital, and Waterless Printing, Direct Mail Distribution and Web to Print Solutions, has agreed to purchase two new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch six-color sheetfed presses equipped with interdeck UV and waterless capabilities. The first Rapida 105 will be delivered to the firm’s Cheverly, Md. facility later this fall and the second KBA Rapida 105 will be delivered in the fall of 2008. “We have a reputation as a cutting-edge firm that is a leader in environmental initiatives and passionately

PITTSBURGH—October 11, 2007—Offset and Beyond, the only national conference developed by printers for printers, announced signature content for its event scheduled for April 26–29, 2008 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Conference Center in Schaumburg, IL. “There will be outstanding networking opportunities with industry notables, cutting-edge programming, and immediate take-home value for all attendees,” said Ralph Pontillo, Vice President, Division Director at Transcontinental Printing Inc. “This is a must-attend event and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.” Known for its world renowned keynote speakers, Offset and Beyond delivers once again with James Bradley, Author, Flags of Our Fathers, and David Gregory, NBC Chief White House

WILLISTON, VT—10/05/07—KBA North America, a global leading press manufacturer, will be holding an open house during the prime foliage season in northern Vermont for its customers and industry executives. The open house, scheduled for October 12-14, 2007, will present its wide range of award-winning press models and explore the newest innovations in the 41-inch and KBA-owned large-format market and will cover industry segments like commercial, packaging, labels, and other high-growth specialty markets. “We are eager to welcome all our customers, from small entrepreneurial companies to large organizations, to our open house during one of the most magnificent seasons of the year,” said Holger Garbrecht,

WITH THE massive Drupa exhibition in Germany just seven months away, Graph Expo 2007 held in Chicago last month won’t go down in graphic arts history as a watershed event from a jaw-dropping new product standpoint. But that didn’t stop more than 20,000 upbeat attendees from filling the aisles at what was the largest Graph Expo event since 2000, and the second largest ever. Despite the Drupa effect, from a traditional offset printing standpoint there were a few new presses introduced, several automation and makeready advancements on display and, of course, a sprinkling of press sale announcements. An emphasis on environmental sustainability and improved

CHICAGO—9/24/07—Chicago printer M&G Graphics caters to many of the Windy City’s premier institutions. Since 1984, M&G has printed brochures, mailers, postcards and annual reports for an impressive client list that includes the Chicago Park District, Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Historical Society and Morton Arboretum. “The quality requirements of our customers are quite high,” said Josephine Meyer, owner. “The Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S is surpassing their requirements.” A first-time Mitsubishi press buyer, M&G installed the five-color, 40-inch sheetfed press with coater in July to replace two six-color machines from another manufacturer. The Diamond 3000S is doing the job of the older

WILLISTON, VT—9/24/07—KBA North America, a leading press manufacturer, is announcing that Quest Graphics, a Maryland Heights, Missouri large format printer, will be installing a new fully-automated KBA Rapida 162 64-inch six-color sheetfed press equipped with inline UV capabilities in early fall. “For the past two to three years, we have needed to purchase a new press,” says Dan Cribbin, president of Quest Graphics. “It’s a two-fold reason. First, we needed additional capacity. Secondly, our customers were demanding faster turnaround and inline UV capabilities. We knew that we needed a new fully-automated press.” KBA’s large format leadership holds the key While the firm considers itself

WILLISTON, VT—September 11, 2007—KBA North America, a leading manufacturer of printing presses, and xpedx, the world’s largest distributor of printing papers and graphics supplies and equipment, said today they have formed a joint marketing agreement under which KBA will use printing papers from xpedx and include xpedx products in its press demonstrations, education and training seminars, and print tests. “This alliance will benefit printers because they can see how specific papers perform on KBA presses,” says Eric Frank, vice president of marketing for Williston, VT-based KBA. “Printers will also get up-to-date information on technical and environmental issues surrounding paper and learn about new