Offset Still Essential

Thornton says the four Ryobi presses his shop runs have all had dampeners added or replaced.

He's not alone, either. At the University of Texas Medical Branch, David Barley also believes the most important feature on his in-plant's two two-color Heidelberg perfectors is the dampening system.

"It makes things easier. You have less sheets ruined, good registration and less scumming on the plates," says Barley.