From the aisles of drupa: Speed and profitability for offset

Komori, for example, has been demonstrating two presses, an LS540 and an LS529 half size press, doing three jobs in a row. That includes three full makereadies, and printing three jobs of 130 sheets each. All this is done in under nine minutes.

Quick, yes, but with print runs of just 130 sheets each you’d have to argue that offset is not the technology of choice for those jobs. Not so, says Komori, especially when you consider that at that production speed and with offset quality there’s no reason why an offset printer couldn’t charge the premium normally associated with digital printers for each sheet, instead of the usual offset rates, and make this a profitable proposition. It puts a new spin on the old offset/digital equation.

Komori is also showing all its presses with artificial intelligence, which enables them to “learn” typical set-up parameters and obviate the need for operator interference at every step.

Other trends have been prominent here at drupa, but there’s one that might best be left here in Dusseldorf at the end of the show. A lot of visitors are wearing shorts here during the very warm weather. Understandable, except that the shorts, to just below the knee in length (they used to be called knickerbockers in another age when they were trendy previously) are teamed with socks and sandals. With a peek of very pale European skin twixt pant and sock as trendy punters cram the aisles, it’s a look that I implore all Australians to avoid altogether next summer.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required

Advertisement

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Advertisement