Taking The Direct Route

These devices have their niche, admits Heidelberg's Victor Wiley, but for run lengths between 500 and 5,000, a Heidelberg DI press will print faster and more cost-effectively, he says.

To back this up, Larry Jablinske, manager of graphic and printing services for SAFECO, notes that his in-plant already had an Indigo digital press before it added the Adast DI press. He says it made more sense to use the Indigo for the really short run work—under 500 copies—and get the new press for volumes over that. Plus, he adds, even though the Indigo press' quality is very good, his customers wanted offset-quality work.