Pamarco Global Graphics

BY MARK SMITH Heavy iron, a moniker for presses that conveys size and brute force, has been supplanted by talk of electronic controls, digital integration and computerization. Lest anyone forget, the real magic of lithography still happens when ink and water (fountain solution, to be precise) meet on the plate. Mechanical systems are what make a press, even if an increasingly more electronic face is being put on them. None play a more central role in the offset printing process than the dampening system. The fundamentals are the same for web and sheetfed press applications, but the solutions of choice tend to differ. Delta

New Digs for Graphics Microsystems ROCKWALL, TX—Graphics Microsystems (GMI), headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, opened its new 50,000-square-foot facility here in February to increase capacity for its Microcolor ink controls, ColorQuick closed-loop color control systems and PrintQuick color-to-color register systems. The shareholders of Check Technology Corp. have approved a proposal to change the company's name to Delphax Technologies. Rudi Lenz has joined Sun Chemical as senior vice president and CFO. Most recently, Lenz served as president and CEO of Fairchild Aircraft. SICPA North America, a provider of ink solutions to printers of labels, plastic cards, packaging and carton gravure applications, has appointed JoEllen Lawler as director of human

CALIFORNIA GARDENA—L.A. Press is up-and-running with a new six-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Model 3F-13 sheetfed press. IRVINE—Orange County Printing has installed a six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone press outfitted with a Tri-Service ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system. VAN NUYS—The installation of the Sentinel ink management system from Accel Graphic Systems is complete at Great Western Litho. The ink management system is now equipped on a Komori Lithrone 640 press purchased at PRINT 01. CONNECTICUT MERIDEN—Three former shareholders of Vision Graphics have joined commercial printer Miller-Johnson Inc. They are Tom Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Erik Mitchell. The transaction was initiated on Miller-Johnson's behalf by Rampart Associates LLC.

BY ERIK CAGLE When you have the need for speed (press speed, that is) the last thing you want is some clunky drying/curing system that is not able to keep pace. Systems that generate high UV output to cure difficult colors and the heavy laydown of inks and coatings at high press speeds are highly sought, according to Dave McDowell, UV product manager for UVTechnology. Minimizing the temperatures of the web allow for printing on films and thermal-sensitive substrates. "As print quality improves, demand has grown for greater image quality and impact from non-traditional substrates," McDowell states. "In many cases, printers are seeking

American Printing Lands New Press MADISON, WI—American Printing recently diversified its pressroom with the addition of an eight-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Model 3F-16 sheetfed press. CALIFORNIA FOUNTAIN VALLEY—A new A.B.Dick DPM2340 direct-to-plate device is up and running at Brookhurst Printer. The company provides printing for medical groups and the banking, insurance and hospitality industries. HUNTINGTON BEACH—Taylor Graphics, a general commercial printer with 12 employees, has purchased a five-color, 20x28˝ Mitsubishi Model 1F-15 sheetfed press. SANTA FE SPRINGS—At The Dot Generator, a six-color, 28˝ Komori Lithrone press equipped with a ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system from TriService has been installed. GEORGIA ATLANTA—Geographics has completed the