Offset Printing - Sheet-Fed

California Printer Replaces Entire Sheetfed Department with High Performance Presses KENNESAW, GA— August 21, 2006—Dome Printing, a high-end commercial sheetfed printer located in Sacramento, CA, recently replaced its entire sheetfed department with two six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 presses with inline coaters. Added to increase capacity and introduce a larger format size (29.5 x 41.3 inch) to its pressroom, the Speedmaster XL 105’s already are delivering results, according to the company’s three owners, brothers Tim, Andy and Bob Poole. “We typically replace our older presses every eight years with the latest and most innovative technology on the market,” said Tim Poole, president, Dome Printing. “Because

Ohio large-format printer differentiates itself with super large format press GAHANNA, OH—KBA North America, a leading sheetfed offset press manufacturer based in Williston, Vt., is announcing that Loupe, a large-format printing operation, has experienced double-digit growth and enhanced its printing business after the installation of a super large format Rapida 205 81-inch six-color sheetfed press with coater and custom plastics package. The new press was installed in early January 2005 at the firm’s new 308,000 sq ft facility. “The key to our rapid growth is the ability to offer our clients one source to produce all of their printing under our roof in the fastest and

IT’S STRIKING for so many industry trends to be encapsulated in a single company, especially a mid-size printer with just over 50 employees. Denver-based Lange Graphics continues to make major investments in sheetfed offset capabilities while expanding its digital printing business. Both production platforms have the capability to support the firm’s diversification into printing on plastic, static cling and removable vinyl materials. The shop also is in the process of rolling out a Web-to-print solution. Lange Graphics originally established a separate business—Digi Colorado—as a vehicle for its move into digital printing, but is now offering offset and digital printing services in an integrated approach. Its

LOCATED IN Acworth, GA, just outside the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, Seiz Printing resides in a renovated thread mill that was originally constructed in 1905. Steeped in Southern tradition and hospitality, the highly successful, family owned business has been serving corporate clients, advertising firms and graphic design houses in the Atlanta area for more than 34 years. Recently, the company set its sights on becoming one of the top high-end commercial print shops in the nation and increasing its revenues from approximately $15 million per year to the $20 million to $25 million range. The shop’s latest installation of equipment represents the first step

PART OF the beauty surrounding printing on plastics is that the potential for applications is limited only by the imagination of designers. And, judging by the creativity of some gizmos and gadgets printed on plastic, that doesn’t appear to be an issue. Even with limitless possibilities, this discipline comes with caveats. The substrates cost more than most paper stocks. The adhesion can be difficult. Some substrates can be high maintenance. Not every great concept will fly. And neophytes need to educate themselves thoroughly on the nuances of plastics printing. Color Ink, based in Sussex, WI, has worked in the plastics space since 2001, with

TO STAND out from the rest of the herd, offset press manufacturers, both web and sheetfed, have ramped up their service offerings. This trend toward extended service plans, preventive maintenance programs and beefed up parts and labor options is allowing press manufacturers to expand what is offered to their customers while also becoming more of a partner with the printer. Here is a look at some service plans that are available, in no particular order. At PRINT 05, Heidelberg unveiled an extended service package to the U.S. market called systemservice 36plus. Heidelberg’s systemservice 36plus service package extends service coverage for a period of 36

A FAMILY owned printing company is not unusual. But one that was started by three 20-something brothers, which has endured 30 years of growth and that’s debt-free, is surely note-worthy. Today, Shapco Printing is one of the largest sheetfed commercial printers in Minnesota. Located in downtown Minneapolis, this full-service company offers computer-to-plate, offset and digital printing, binding, kitting, and mailing and fulfillment services. Shapco has up to eight-color, 40˝ printing capabilities on paper (up to 40-pt. board) and plastic substrates. Joel Shapiro, 51, along with his co-owner brothers Robert, 50, and Alan, 56, have built a competitive edge based on their high-end printing capabilities combined with

WILLISTON, VT—While color output may be the standard in today’s offset printing market, the necessity for printers to adopt unique, value-added production capabilities is as clear as black and white. That, in part, is what drew approximately 100 visitors from around the country to a customer demo center open house held March 30th at KBA North America’s Sheetfed Press Div. headquarters. Demonstrations throughout the day showcased assorted press changeovers from commercial to packaging jobs, the switch from hybrid to conventional, special colors and effects, as well as printing on paper, board and plastic substrates. The various press runs comprised 18 makereadies with substrate changes. “We’ve more than

MUCH LIKE the historic city it calls home, Pearl Pressman Liberty Communications Group (PPLCG) has numerous tales to tell from a 100-year-old past steeped in printing tradition. Following in the fabled footsteps of Ben Franklin, this Philadelphia-based company has endured the tests of time, disaster and radical change in the industry. It all started in 1906, when two teenagers, working in a Philadelphia print shop, decided to go out on their own. The sons of Russian and Latvian immigrants, Manuel Pearl and Charles Pressman scraped together $60 and purchased a foot-powered press, assorted type and some paper. They worked out of Pressman’s bedroom in the

THERE ARE those who believe that offset printing is well aware of its mortality, in light of advances and inroads made by its younger and better connected cousin, digital printing. But even if offset technology is on the clock (and not everyone can agree), the lead time to its possible demise is fairly substantial. So before you convert that stacked web press into a glorified set of monkey bars, consider the major benefits that many printers have reaped by having hybrid technologies under one roof. In some cases, both offset and digital are being leveraged for the same job, as they each offer advantages