Tidewater Direct Installs Two-color Goss Sunday 2000 Web Press

CENTREVILLE, MD—February 4, 2014—Tidewater Direct, a web offset printing company with three locations nationally, announced the completion and production of its newest printing press installation—a two-color Goss Sunday 2000 web press in its facility based here. This is the 5th printing press installation for Tidewater in the last three years, a testament to a consistent growth strategy and perseverance in a challenging market segment. A sister press to its six-color Sunday 2000 printing press, it will focus on the production of low color direct mail component parts, commercial printing and pharmaceutical printing.

The press is equipped with a Contiweb splicer, two perfecting Sunday 2000 38" wide units with 22.25" repeat and gapless technology, a Vits Perforation Unit, and Vits Rotocut S sheeter. It’s ideal for medium and long runs of line-copy work on lightweight stocks. With the primary expected use to be uncoated direct mail printing, the press will allow for efficiencies in manufacturing terms and conditions, privacy statements, letters and similar low color direct mail component parts. In addition, the press will be ideal for pharmaceutical printing including PI’s (product inserts) and IFU’s (Instructions for use).

"It’s a custom project that we planned for a long time prior to execution," answered Geoffrey Eisenberg, vice president of operations when asked about the nature of the installation. "The contractors we used to make this possible executed very well, and our team made sure the project stayed on track." Eisenberg added that the press uses a custom software console and a unique driveline, making the press a one-of-a-kind.

In early 2013, Tidewater announced the production of it’s 6/6 Sunday press with a similar pedigree. That press has a 48' long oven with the ability to successfully cure heavy ink coverage on heavy stock, ideal for higher color component parts. Between the two presses, Tidewater is capable of printing 12MM 8.5x11 letters per day in its Centreville facility. The press gives the commercial printer the ability to run a printing press with the same speed as the six-color press, using less staff to its shorter length and product mix. Most importantly, it uses inks that are manufactured to dry instantly, allowing Tidewater to use far less energy.

When Ken Boone, president, was asked about the importance of this investment, his insight was clear. "The new press consumes far less energy and is our most environmentally-friendly press," remarked Boone. "With the speed, fuel efficiency and staffing advantages of this press we have significantly lowered our cost of product in this brutally competitive market.”

Source: Tidewater Direct.