GPO Prints Congressional Record for the First Time With Inkjet

Exactly 147 years to the day after publishing the first issue of the Congressional Record March 5, 1873, the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) yesterday printed the first complete Congressional Record using digital inkjet presses. New GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern was on hand to witness the historic transition from web offset to inkjet technology.

Late last year, GPO installed six production inkjet presses, five Océ ColorStream 6000 inkjet presses and one Océ VarioPrint i200 cut-sheet inkjet press. The first Congressional Record, detailing House and Senate proceedings from the prior legislative day, was published using hand-set type while Ulysses S. Grant was president.

For the first time, GPO has printed the Congressional Record with an inkjet press.

For the first time, GPO has printed the Congressional Record with an inkjet press.

For the first time, GPO has printed the Congressional Record with an inkjet press.

 “I congratulate the GPO team on publishing the first complete Congressional Record on our new digital inkjet presses,” said Halpern. “These presses are an investment in GPO’s future and our ability to provide exceptional customer service. They vastly enhance our flexibility to meet our customers’ needs for both large and small jobs.”

 The new digital inkjet presses will streamline production and allow the agency to automate the workflow from the start of a project to final publication. Along with providing high-speed automated printing, these digital print machines also offer real-time data for operational accountability. The new presses are faster, more reliable, and more cost-efficient than the previous equipment. The agency will also reduce its paper waste, which will drop to as low as 2%, with the implementation of the new ink jet presses.