Offset Printing - Web

by Dennis E. Mason Halfway through the first decade of the 21st century seems a good time to step back and assess the status of web offset printing and what the future may hold. The web printing industry is five years beyond the Y2K scare, and has largely recovered from the downturn that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks. So where do we go from here? For answers to this key question, Printing Impressions went to a number of web industry observers and printers. Here is what they had to say about a number of important issues: How are JDF and Computer-integrated Manufacturing

COMMENTARY by Vincent Mallardi, C.M.C. A monstrous double-round cylinder transfixed a trio at a trade show as if it was an object from outer space. A technician turned it reverently as it revealed the gleaming and exaggerated reflections of the human forms facing it. "That's what we need to replace the M-1000-A!" A sales exec nearby wasn't moved. Eerie onlookers like these were serious in intention, correct in their vision, but pathetically "years late and dollars short." That's why only a cylinder, and not a press, was being exhibited; as an auto dealer might showcase a wheel-assembly instead of a car. Web printing is no longer

Despite all of the changes afoot at Applied Printing Technologies (APT), there is something very familiar about this full-service, general commercial printer. For example, APT President and CEO Carl Grossman has been on the job a little less than two years, yet is a very familiar figure in the printing industry. Jack Egan, executive vice president, has been with the company for roughly one year, but was recently with a very large, well-known national printer. Even Joe Rondone, vice president of sales and marketing, has been on board less than a year. Want familiarity? The Moon-achie, NJ-based printer is owned by Morton Zuckerman,

by chris bauer Managing Editor As printed media, especially newspapers, battle outside competition from a growing number of digital sources, non-heatset web press manufacturers have to keep up with the technology that will help newspapers compete and survive. More color, faster speeds, and versatile and automated presses are now needed in most newspaper pressrooms. "Coldset printing—particularly newspapers and semi-commercial newspaper supplements—remains an extremely effective, economical and accepted medium for delivering advertising and editorial content," points out Greg Norris, marketing manager for Heidelberg Web Systems. "Advertisers will continue to demand more color and higher print quality. Newspapers and coldset printing specialists will continue to respond

by chris bauer Managing Editor Finally, the rumor mill can go silent concerning the status of industry giant Heidelberg Web Systems. Just days before closing this issue, Heidelberg and Goss International reached an agreement on major issues for the intended transfer of the Heidelberg Web Offset division to Goss International. An outline deal has been agreed upon in principle, but some issues remain to be resolved before definitive documents are expected to be executed over the coming weeks. Heidelberg will still display web presses at the upcoming Drupa trade show in Germany, reports Greg Norris, manager of marketing communications. Its newest

By Caroline Miller Associate Editor UV drying technology is continuing to make major in-roads into the web offset printing market as printers are forced to deal with heightened EPA restrictions, a sour economy and the need to further diversify their product offerings. "This year, we've really seen a trend of printers seeking us out. In the past, we've gone to them, but now they are coming to us," reports Elinor Midlik, president of Prime UV Systems. "We've seen a growing interest in UV systems regionally. We're hearing from many companies located in California, Maryland, Ohio and Massachusetts that are under strict EPA restrictions and

ELIZABETHVILLE, PA—More than 22 commercial coldset and newspaper printers converged on Dauphin Graphic Machines' (DGM) headquarters recently to get a better understanding of how the UV printing process could benefit them at a one-day seminar co-sponsored by Flint Ink and Prime UV Systems. The event was held at DGM's state-of-the-art training facility, CMYK University, located here. The seminar was unique in that, after discussing the finer points of the UV printing process with experts from DGM, Flint Ink and Prime UV, attendees were able to step into the press lab that adjoins the CMYK classroom and watch a live demonstration of the UV curing

by chris bauer Read all about it: The latest generation of newspaper presses are more than black-and-white machines churning out The Daily Rag. Color is here to stay—and newspaper press manufacturers are providing a column's worth of features and automated functions to advance newspaper printing beyond its traditional role. "Ever increasing color expansion is an ongoing trend in the American and global newspaper market," says David Stamp, global director of marketing for Goss International. "This drives four-high tower addition projects to existing installed presses—a very topical subject in the United States in 2003." Stamp sees many of his customers investing in press enhancements to

by chris bauer According to heatset web press manufacturers, an intense war is raging—and they aren't talking about Iraq. The war they speak of is a pricing war—and it is being fought among commercial printers. This economic conflict is necessitating higher productivity and press availability to increase efficiency and, in turn, generate profits. "This calls for higher production speeds with higher circulations and a reduction in makeready times and waste due to a higher degree of automation," says Erik Rehmann of Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA). "Additional paper savings are achieved by reducing the size of the cylinder circumference—with mini-gap technology and the use

BY CAROLINE MILLER Improved press technologies, better ink formulations and the absence of environmental regulations are just a few of the reasons why UV web offset press designs are turning the heads of heatset web printers. In the past, a heatset printer might not have considered a UV web press as a viable option in the pressroom. The cost and the complexity alone of UV printing outweighed any benefits a printer could gleam from printing and drying/curing with the UV process. "Had anyone predicted five years ago that the UV market would be where it is today, they would have been met with scorn,"