Komori America

GRAPH EXPO WRAP-UP -- Traditional Offset Gets a Booster Shot
November 1, 2002

BY MARK MICHELSON Given the lingering economic malaise, representatives of sheetfed and web offset press manufacturers exhibiting at Graph Expo & Converting Expo 02 in Chicago last month—understandably—may have felt a bit under the weather leading up to the show. Any salesperson trying to reach his/her quota selling printing presses knows that the past 12 to 24 months have been a real headache. Would customers and prospects even come to the show and, more importantly, would printers there be feeling healthy enough to make capital equipment purchases? To the surprise of many exhibitors, attendee traffic was brisk, especially the opening day and throughout the

Komori Debuts LS40 Press
September 1, 2002

By Mark Michelson ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Commercial printers from throughout North America came to Komori America's headquarters here recently to see demonstrations of its sleek new 40˝ Lithrone S40 (LS40) sheetfed offset press, which first debuted at the IPEX exhibition in England last spring. According to Doug Schardt, Komori product manager, the LS40 includes a console-driven makeready, the KHS high-performance inking system and standard features like a double diameter cylinder configuration. "When you take these classic Lithrone features and add all the new technology of the LS, you've got a press that can't be beat for productivity, versatility and printability," lauds Schardt. LS40 enhancements include: * Automated makeready

SHEETFED PRESSES -- Sizing Up the Options
August 1, 2002

BY MARK SMITH Sheetfed offset presses have long been considered the workhorses of the commercial printing industry. This market position has been strengthened by the introduction of new formats, configurations and productivity features to the stable of mid- to large-format machines. The eight-page, 40˝ (or so) press traditionally has set the standard for the market segment. It has been a source of identity both for shops with the capability and those aspiring to reach that benchmark. Now, press models on either half of the format range increasingly are looking like fun house mirror reflections of the modern, 40˝ press. The state-of-the-art across the board

ACROSS the nation
August 1, 2002

ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE—A new two-color, 28˝ Komori Lithrone press has been installed at All American Printing. TUSCALOOSA—The University of Alabama has added a new four-color, 21 1⁄16 x 19 1⁄8˝ Sakurai 474EPII press. CALIFORNIA IRVINE—The Dot Printer recently installed a Fujifilm Javelin Luxel T-9000 CTP thermal platesetter. The company is a five-facility, $36 million commercial printing operation. LOS ANGELES—Lithographix has installed its second Rollem TR die-scoring system and a Durselen/Rollem PB01 drilling system. NAPA—Label printer Jonergin Pacific has purchased CRC Information Systems' "The System" business management software. The company specializes in the production of high-quality wine labels. SAN DIEGO—Speedy Bindery has purchased a Best Osako

IPEX 2002 -- Products
June 1, 2002

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. moved into violet imaging CTP technology by previewing three internal-drum systems that feature 30mW laser diodes for exposing photopolymer plates. The Saber Luxel Vx-6000 CTP handles a 29.5x26.4˝ maximum plate size and is offered in manual and semi-automatic configurations. The Saber Luxel V-9600 CTP and Vx-9600 CTP support a 45.7x37.8˝ maximum plate size and initially will be available in a fully automatic configuration. The Vx model supports a slightly larger imaging area and will be offered in manual and semi-automatic configurations in the future. Write in 382 on Reader Service Card Delphax Technologies debuted the Imaggia II series of sheetfed

HEATSET WEB OFFSET PRESSES -- Some Like It Hot
May 1, 2002

BY CAROLINE MILLER Printers shopping for a heatset web offset press all agree on one thing: less definitely is more. Less makeready time, less press downtime, less manning requirements and less paper waste generated all mean one thing—more profits. And that's exactly what heatset web press vendors are offering their customers. "Emerging and growing printers have a renewed focus on technology and flexibility," reports Richard Kerns, president of Solna Web Systems. "Waste and time on press are crucial issues, which can be addressed easily by the new technologies available. Our customers are now equipping their heatset presses with closed-loop color control systems, ink

SMALL-FORMAT SHEETFEDS -- Small Press Envy
February 1, 2002

BY CAROLINE MILLER It's not the size of the press that matters, but rather how you use it. There was a time when small-format sheetfed offset presses sat in the shadows. A workhorse, but nothing compared to their fast and flashy, 40˝ and larger brothers. Today, small presses are becoming the envy of the larger presses. The small press market has been the subject of intense technological development and, as a result, small presses, ranging in size up to 20x29,˝ now offer the features found on larger presses such as increased press speeds, makeready automation, networked systems and digital controls. In fact, with

SUPPLIER news
February 1, 2002

Gämmerler Corp. announced record orders for the second quarter of fiscal year 2001, reporting a 34 percent increase in orders over the same period the previous year. The high order volume was attributed to a number of new orders placed at PRINT 01, including sales to R.R. Donnelley & Sons for four of its plants, as well as to Shuttle Printing and Suttle-Straus. CM Acquisitions, a Chicago-based private equity firm, has agreed to acquire American Roller of Bannockburn, IL. The sale was effective as of December 28. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is acquiring the business assets of

LARGE-FORMAT SHEETFEDS -- Size Matters
October 1, 2001

BY CAROLINE MILLER Automation has surely found its way into the large-format sheetfed offset press arena. Over the past six years, there has been a virtual explosion in what can now be found in the 40˝ and larger size format—including automated plate changers and washup systems, as well as sophisticated press control stations with touchscreen controls. Printers no longer have to contend with slow and labor-intensive machines, explains Mike Grego, marketing manager for Sakurai USA, which offers the 40˝ Sakurai 2102EPII press. "Automation is a must. With labor costs being one of the largest contributors to the hourly operating cost of a

PRINT 01 WRAP-UP -- Lasting Impressions
October 1, 2001

The show must go on. The spirit behind that old saying resonated through the halls of McCormick Place during the later days of PRINT 01. The show remained open for its entire scheduled run, even though the level of activity did drop significantly after Tuesday morning. The mood and topics of conversation though, understandably, turned away from graphic arts industry issues to the horror of the terrorist attacks. "Prior to September 11th, in spite of the weak economy, PRINT 01 was attracting good attendance, and exhibitors reported steady and serious buying activity across all product types and sizes," reported Regis J. Delmontagne, president of