Presstek Inc.

Ten months ago, the aging, largely analog Central Printing Division at the Oklahoma Department of Central Services (DCS), struggled to produce high-value color print and finishing work. “It was more than a challenge to be competitive and meet production deadlines,” recalls Mark Dame, director of Central Printing. Because it conducts its business as a self-funded government program, Central Printing often competes with some of Oklahoma City’s best commercial printers. For this reason, Central Printing’s team of 24 employees knew the time had come for

DESPITE THE cancellation of the ACUP conference, ACUP lived on this year in a Webinar that attracted more than 100 in-plant managers from around the world. IPG partnered with the Association of College and University Printers to bring about the event, held on what would have been the last day of the ACUP conference. Three of the speakers who were scheduled to talk at ACUP gave their presentations online. Then, to replicate some of the free-flowing shop talk that is ACUP's hallmark, three past ACUP hosts held a lively roundtable discussion about the latest developments in their shops.

PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, and DICE, the Digital Imaging Customer Exchange, announced today that the two member-supported organizations will merge and move forward under the management of Caslon, a PODi Affiliate. When the merger is completed, members will enjoy the full resources of both of these prominent digital print industry organizations.

EVEN AFTER installing an HP Indigo 1050 digital color press four years ago, San Diego State University ReproGraphic Services still found it challenging to reach portions of the four-color market. Longer-run jobs were not cost effective on the 1050, so the in-plant was using its aging computer-to-plate (CTP) system and two-color presses to produce them. It was not the most efficient setup. So in 2006, Leslie Rutledge, manager of the nine-employee in-plant, made the decision to install a Presstek 34DI direct imaging press. Life has not been the same since. The chemistry-free, waterless offset press images plates directly on the press, saving time, improving quality and decreasing costs.

Printing Services at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, is keeping a lot more printing in-house these days thanks to the recent installation of a Presstek 34DI press. “We looked at what was being outsourced, and the Presstek DI press was the best match to bring that work back in house,” says Manager Peter Klit. “We have been able to keep a great deal more printing work on campus.”

The cancellation of the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) conference due to institutional travel bans saddened many higher-ed in-plant managers. But now, thanks to a special ACUP webinar, in-plants around the globe can still experience some of the educational sessions that had been planned for the conference.

Through a partnership with In-Plant Graphics, some of the very speakers scheduled to speak at ACUP will be participating in the ACUP webinar just 12 days from today. Co-hosted by ACUP President Richard Griffin and In-Plant Graphics Editor Bob Neubauer, the 90-minute webinar will include presentations by three university in-plant managers, plus a lively roundtable discussion by three past ACUP hosts.

Dozens of in-plant managers came to Philadelphia recently for the On Demand Conference. Here's a brief glimpse of what they saw there.

For decades, new equipment was a rarity at the New York City Department of Health’s Reproduction Unit. Like many in-plants, the 18-employee shop languished in its basement abode, accepting equipment handouts from other agencies and buying inexpensive, small equipment when it could cobble together some funds. Then, about four years ago, everything changed. The Health Department invested $1.13 million in new press, computer-to-plate and bindery equipment for the in-plant. Then federal bio terrorism grant money funded more than a dozen additional machines. This astounding equipment infusion is unlike anything ever seen in the in-plant world.

The Presstek 52DI-AC combines the power of DI printing with the capabilities of in-line aqueous coating. Commercial, in-plant and packaging printers can expand the range of applications they produce, thus opening new business opportunities.

The Application Showcase Theater on The On Demand Expo floor will feature leading vendors conducting multimedia educational presentations. This area offers free education to all attendees. The Conference and Expo will be taking place March 30 – April 2, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.