In this short-run era, where a third of all jobs have run lengths of just 250 sheets, how are sheetfed offset presses faring? Industry observer Frank Romano offers his view.

By Frank Romano

All offset presses are advancing. Anilox inking is now available on Heidelberg models and KBA’s Karat DI press. Automatic plate loading, on-press control systems, and links via JDF to the job information, are all making today’s offset lithographic presses the best they have ever been.IPG

Frank Romano’s career has spanned over 40 years in the printing and publishing industries. He is the editor of the “International Paper Pocket Pal” and has written hundreds of articles for publications in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. He is the author of over 44 books and has founded eight publications. He lectures extensively and has consulted for major corporations, publishers and government agencies. He wrote the first report on on-demand digital printing in 1980 and ran the first conference on the subject in 1985. He was the principal researcher on the landmark EDSF study “Printing in the Age of the Web and Beyond.” He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes and many other publications. Romano continues to teach courses at RIT and other universities. You can e-mail him at: fxrppr@rit.edu