Heidelberg

Xerox has a lead with its DocuTech, but other vendors are successfully challenging it. In-plant users have strong opinions on the available machines. by Allan Martin Kemler Xerox has ruled the high-speed black-and-white digital printing world since it launched its DocuTech in 1990. So when Heidelberg, a giant in its own right, decided to step into the fray, everyone wanted to see what would happen next. What happened was Heidelberg partnered with Danka, Canon and IBM to sell its print engine to the world's print-on-demand customers as the Danka/Heidelberg Digimaster 9110, the Canon Imagerunner 110 and the IBM Infoprint 2000. Now, everyone wants

Digital printing has not replaced offset yet. But in-plants that have added digital gear say they can do certain jobs much more efficiently this way. We spoke with four in-plant managers about their digital printing capabilities. Becton Dickinson and Co. Printing Services Franklin Lakes, N.J. Office Services Manager: Michael Bekker (Michael_Bekker@bd.com) In-plant employees: 10 Annual operating budget: $1.55 million Main digital printing equipment: Xerox DocuTech 6180, Canon 2400. Jobs printed digitally: Price lists, training manuals, workbooks, correspondence, product catalogs, telephone directories. _________________________ University of North Carolina-Greensboro Graphics and Printing Greensboro, N.C. Director: Angela W. Schrock (angela_schrock@uncg.edu) In-plant employees: Four full-time, one part-time, four students

Picking a scanner can be a tough job. Find out from a prepress specialist how to sort through the different categories and specifications. The opening years of the new millennium offer a remarkable array of scanners to choose from. Consequently, making a decision—much less gathering all the information necessary—can be a tedious and frustrating exercise. Scanners can be more or less grouped into three categories: high-end, midrange and entry level. The boundaries between these categories are blurry, and exceptions abound. Still, they will help bring some order to the scanner selection process. Also keep in mind that drum scanners are often

What's the future of offset technology? Find out where direct imaging is taking it—and how presses may eventually shed plates altogether. Look at the trends: Shorter runs. Faster turnaround demands. Digital job data. Cut-throat competition. Many printers won't survive. Those that do will have to use new technology to heed these trends. That's where on-press imaging comes in. It offers everything today's business climate demands: Short-run efficiency, lower costs, faster makereadies and fewer steps. True, direct imaging (DI) is nothing new; Heidelberg introduced its GTO-DI in 1991. But DI quality has improved since then. New imaging systems from Presstek and CreoScitex have paved

Federal Reserve Bank in-plants don't print money, but they work together to try to save it. COSMO CORVAGLIA has a kingdom—though he'd probably prefer to call it an area, or maybe just a district. Either way, he's the one responsible for it. This kingdom (or district if you prefer) stretches from Trenton, N.J., to Rehoboth, Del., and from Pittsburgh to Cape May Point, N.J. And although he isn't really a king, or even a prince for that matter, he is part of an organization few understand—and even fewer could live without. Cos Corvaglia is print manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

To compete in the future, you must start providing customers with non-paper-based services today. LAST YEAR at the On Demand Digital Printing & Publishing conference, the unofficial theme of the show was dotcom fever. Now that the fever has broken, the big bang buzz is all about paperless communication. But this isn't your father's "paperless office of the future," mind you. This is different. In the past, when the term "paperless office" was first being bandied about like a baby at a bridal shower, the term reflected the hazy euphoria associated with early computing. This time around, having had the benefit of a

Computer-to-plate systems can reduce your expenses and increase your productivity and quality. Find out if CTP belongs in your in-plant. Computer-to-plate (CTP) technology has changed drastically over the last two years. The cost of digital workflow systems has dropped dramatically, becoming more affordable to even small in-plants. One benefit of this is the increased availability of thermal CTP systems and printing plates. A completely digital workflow may seem limiting, but in truth it offers just as many options as a traditional or computer-to-film process. Using digital technology will allow you to use polyester or metal plates or, if required, print out onto film.

A new Heidelberg Digimaster 9110 and a dedicated staff have helped Case Western Reserve University refine course pack production. When Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio, outsourced its offset press work and bookstore operations, it considered outsourcing all printing services at the same time. That might have happened, too, had Lisa Gerlach, printing services manager, not been able to demonstrate that her department achieves lower per copy costs than outside providers—while simultaneously providing outstanding service. Gerlach's staff focuses on creating a professional image for the university, while maintaining low costs for students. When the staff processes copyright clearances for course packs,

In-plants say color copiers can improve customer service and add verve to dull documents. Find out what they can do for you. WHEN YOUR parent company has participated in the construction of such historic projects as the Hoover Dam, San Francisco Bay Bridge and Trans-Alaska Pipeline, you can't afford to skimp on quality. And when your parent company routinely sends out multi-million or even multi-billion dollar proposals, they have to be on time and looking good. So when Jerry Prouty has to produce a sharp-looking proposal for his parent company's international construction and engineering business, he turns to his color copier—and it delivers every

As the largest insurance in-plant in the country, the Allstate Print Communications Center uses cutting-edge technology to provide unrivaled service. "You're in good hands." That's what Allstate Insurance tells its customers to reassure them that the company is looking out for their best interests. It's also what the Allstate Print Communications Center believes describes its relationship with its parent company. After all, in addition to both offset printing and digital black-and-white and color printing, the in-plant offers ink-jet addressing, mail processing, billing statement output, electronic prepress, bindery, distribution and more to support Allstate and its commerical business for external customers. Just about the only