Small Press, Big Opportunity

New Features For Small Presses

As printers contend with pricing pressures, manufacturers have added features to small-format presses. For example, Sakurai USA's approach is to design a machine that fits the U.S. paper size to increase productivity.

"Our 58 series press is priced similar to our competitors' 14x20˝ press, but we print four-up, 8-1⁄2x11˝ vs. two-up, 8-1⁄2x11˝," contends Mike Grego, Sakurai's marketing manager. "That capability doubles a printer's productivity and makes a huge difference in his profit margin. The fastest 14x20˝ press can only print 30,000, 8-1⁄2x11˝ sheets in one hour. Sakurai's 458EPII press can print 52,000 8-1⁄2x11s in one hour." That's over 70 percent more efficient, he adds.