The Model T-400BE web offset press is Tensor's newest one-around offering. The entire gear train is a 100 percent helical drive design that is said to virtually eliminate any dot distortion. It prints at speeds of 45,000 pph and provides rapid makereadies and quick plate change characteristics.
These applications are available for obvious reasons.
"Printers cannot afford to be down for hours making press and folder adjustments between jobs," observes Steve Kukla, Midwest/West Coast sales manager for Timsons Inc., which markets the Timsons ZMR printing unit.
To deal with this issue, Timsons has developed an automatic web-up device, minimizing the time needed to change out roll stocks. This, in conjunction with electronically automated changes within the folder, makes changing from one book size to another faster and easier.
Meanwhile, Dave Moreland, vice president of marketing and sales of Dauphin Graphic Machines (DGM), states that his company has been experiencing strong sales of the DGM 440 press equipped with UV curing capabilities.
The DGM 440 is a three form, three oscillator press rated up to 45,000 iph. The UV model produces heatset-level results on coated stocks and allows a lower investment level, as well as increased flexibility in markets served, he says.
"The (UV) ink costs have been the major hold back until recently," Moreland admits. "But the prices of UV (materials) are substantially lower now and lend themselves to a variety of short-run work and press-finished products to offset the higher ink pricing."
Mirroring the UV printing theme, Gary Palmer, president of Web Press Corp., is also seeing a trend towards more coated stock usage. "They all want to look like the Victoria's Secret ad pieces," Palmer contends. "We are seeing an increase in UV curing technology being used with coated stock applications. This is due to a combination of environmental issues associated with traditional gas-fired drying, and with a decrease in UV costs relative to gas."