DUSSELDORF, Germany — Newspaper suppliers unveiled a host of new technologies and services at this year’s drupa, ranging from registration control systems to new presses. Newspapers & Technology, the only newspaper industry publication designated as a drupa media partner, will have full coverage of the exhibition in the July issue. In the meantime, a sampling of what occurred at the quadrennial exhibition (in alphabetical order):

• Agfa said it will now offer pressroom supplies, including fountain solutions, washes and plate care. It also upgraded several apps, including Arkitex Core 6.0, a workflow automation program; Arkitex Vantage and Arkitex Analyst, monitoring and reporting software; and Arkitex Grafix RIP 8.0, a dedicated RIP for newspaper file processing. It also introduced its inkjet-based Dotrix Modular press, a UV-curable machine.
• Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. showed its Jetstream web cleaner, along with the Impact Fusion-F NP automated blanket-cleaning system. It introduced WebTack, an inline fold gluing system and ProTech2 NP, a brush cleaning system for blankets and impression cylinders.
• ECRM introduced its Mako 2x, Mako 4x and Mako 8x violet platesetters enhanced with a more powerful 120-milliwatt laser diode. It also released WorkMates 3.0, an entry-level workflow app.
• FFEI introduced an upgrade to its RealVue 3D proofing software and said that Transcontinental Inc. will become the first company to deploy the app, which allows users to transform PDFs into three-dimensional documents that can be viewed as a final product (see Newspapers & Technology, December 2007).
• Transcontinental will roll out RealVue3D Server Pro to support production of more than 130 newspapers, including The (Toronto) Globe & Mail. Finally, FFEI picked Fuji to represent its computer-to-plate products in Europe.
• Goss International added new features to its 4- to 12-page Universal and 8- to 24-page Uniliner press models. The features include semi-automatic plate changing, automatic web-width changing, enhanced damper control and T90 configuration options, where reelstands and towers are rotated through a 90-degree angle on a single floor.
• Goss said it shipped close to 500 Uniliner and Universal printing units in 2007.
• It also added three form inking and level-shaftless drives to its Magnum pressline, which can be configured for either one-around or two-around operation. Finally, it introduced the Pacesetter saddlestitcher, capable of processing up to 16,000 copies an hour. Ferag will market and support the saddlestitcher in Europe.
• Newly renamed manroland unveiled and demonstrated its fully automatic APL (Automatic Plate Loading) system installed on a 3-page wide format XXL Colorman newspaper press. The APL robot arm changes 24 printing plates in about three minutes and can change panorama plates, single plates, or all plates on a cylinder at once, the firm said. Satellite, as well as blanket-to-blanket design presses can be equipped with the APL system and it can also be retrofitted to presses in the field. The APL supports remote plate placement and press unit feeding from the control room. Cassettes can be preloaded and automatically transported to the press prior to the APL’s robotic arm transporting plates onto the press, manroland said. Meantime, the company unveiled a 96-page Lithoman press equipped with either sleeve or conventional blanket technology.
• Megtec Systems rolled out a web press cooling system to permit printers to improve machine performance. The Ironman Integral Web Cooling Process System addresses three major issues, the firm said: condensate on chill rolls, marking on downstream rollers and smoke in the pressroom.
• Nela introduced the On-Press Register Control System, which the vendor said will manage register control of the printing plate as well as the web. It also bolstered its LogiStack system with Plateflow software to provide additional automation.
• Q.I. Press Controls introduced its markless register control system. The mRC uses a digital camera with an integrated microprocessor to ensure that measured data is processed dynamically, QIPC said. A major newspaper printer is expected to buy the system for its North American operations later this week. Meantime, QIPC said The Journal News in Westchester County, N.Y., will install a QIPC IRS colour register control system to oversee its Goss International Corp. press. The order includes 11 cameras and 90 motors. Finally, Ciner Printing Inc. in Turkey is installing QIPC’s Air Bustle Device, becoming the first customer to buy the fan-out control system. Ciner is installing 129 QIPC scanners across its five Koenig & Bauer AG Commander presses.
• Quark Inc. released QuarkXPress 8, the latest version of its flagship page layout and design software. The app will be available for purchase within the next 60 days, Quark said and in the interim, Quark users who purchase or upgrade to QuarkXPress 7 at regular price will be eligible to upgrade to QuarkXPress 8 for free.
• Tensor Group Inc. sold a T-400BE four-high tower with a Prime UV curing system to Turkish printer Ada Matbaacilik Yayincilik Sanayii ve Ticaret Ltd. STI. The equipment will be added onto the printer’s existing Tensor pressline.
• TKS unveiled the Color Top Mini, a 2-by-1 shaftless web offset press targeted toward smaller newspapers and commercial printers. It’s equipped with bearer-to-bearer technology and straight-across plate lockups. The press can also be outfitted with a Kodak Versamark DS6240 to permit the production of variable printed data messages that can be inkjetted onto the running web. The press also sports KKS’ BTC Carrier System, a servo-driven gripper conveyor system that’s designed as a substitute for a belt conveyor. KKS is a unit of TKS.
• WIFAG introduced an automatic plating system. The system, which permits either semi-automatic or fully automatic plate changing, uses a cassette to supply plates to the press. WIFAG said the cassettes can handle either forward or reverse loading. Meantime, WIFAG also unveiled a redesigned plate lockup system. Finally, the vendor commissioned an evolution 373 press at Centro Stampa Quotdiani S.p.A. Erbusco in mid-May.

Mary Van Meter is the publisher of Newspapers & Technology magazine based in the United States. Courtesy Newspapers & Technology — www.newsandtech.com .