Tim Sawyer, director Asia Pacific for Presstek, says, “PrintEx11 is a show where Aussies and Kiwis come to see the latest technology. We want our customers to improve their bottom line and to transition from traditional offset to a digital technology.
“In the old days, every time we would print we would put ink on paper in the traditional way. Now we get information and it goes to different solutions. Printers today just can’t have solely traditional offset so they have to expand their offerings to get that information to customers. They need offset for longer ruins but there is a gap between 500-5000. On the lower toner based solution with a click charge it works economically to a certain number but, when they get to that number, they need something else and offset doesn’t give that.
“What the 52DI press does is it gives very high quality and that number. For established printer, it gives them the portfolio they need. There is more than one market. If we go back several years ago, you has to invest a lot of money but in today’s new world you can buy some digital machines and become a printer. Guys are doing digital work but when they want to give their customer longer run lengths, they don’t want a CTP or a processor or a big footprint.
“With Presstek they don’t have to invest in that large size. On the other side with large offset printers, they have invested in digital and we can complement that. We have a 75DI we launched at Ipex to replace older offset machines and it is more cost effective. A lot of printers are saying, ‘I don’t want to invest in another offset press but I want the quality.’
“The 5DI handles short runs and quick turnaround. It is waterless so doesn’t require the ink water balance skill set and it offers high quality at 300 lpi. Importantly, it takes the productivity out of the operators hands and places it in the equipment. It’s automatic; you are up to sellable colour in 10 sheets in nine and a half minutes on the 52Di. This helps a printer transition to digital. Business models are changing. This gives the best of both worlds.”
He adds that the press’s sustainability credentials have impressed visitors. He concludes, “Its green with no fountain solution, a small design, no platesetter, no developing chemistry, and its carbon footprint is small.”
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