When Looking to Buy a Printing Press

When looking to buy a printing press, the options are abundant, and prices vary. In this blog post you will learn about some of the factors you need to consider when choosing between all of these presses so that you can find the highest quality product for your business! 

-Type of paper being used

-Size of press being purchased

-How many color or black and white copies is needed?

-What methods or types are available for printing? 

-Warranty information and other machines available with purchase. 

Understanding these factors in advance may help you make a more informed decision about your purchase. Sit back and enjoy the read!

BY C.J. CHAVEZ, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE FABULOUS PRINTERS, INC FOR MORE INFO ON PRINTS AT [email protected] 

Typical printing presses can be broken down into two categories: web and flatbed presses. Web presses are best suited for high quality print jobs such as photographs, t-shirts, posters and other fine art projects. Flatbed presses are most commonly used in the manufacturing industry for general printing jobs such as brochures, signs or labels. 

The popularity of digital printing has contributed to the decline in demand for printing presses over the past few years, but traditional printing methods are still preferred by some businesses. To add to this, the demand for printing presses is on the rise thanks to new innovations that are making them faster and more efficient. 

Regardless of how you choose to print your documents, it’s beneficial to know how they were printed in the first place. Here is a brief overview: 

Inkjet Printing: Inkjet technology uses small droplets of ink sprayed through tiny nozzles onto a receiving surface. When these droplets hit paper, they bind together and form ink dots that are transferred onto the paper’s surface. Inkjet printers have become the most popular method of printing when speed and affordability are at the top of a company’s list. Inkjet printers are also used in color laser printers and copiers. 

Dye Sublimation: Dye sublimation is a special printer that uses heat to transfer dyes from a ribbon to specially coated paper. Special inks require a ribbon instead of direct contact with the printing plate like inkjets, which give sublimation its special look. Sublimation is used for printing photographs, signs, event tickets and business cards. 

Laser Printer: Laser printers use powerful light beams to fix ink onto paper. They function nearly identically to photocopiers in that the mechanical printers are able to produce copies of prints as quickly as they are transmitted to the printer via computers through an internet connection. 

The largest manufacturers of printing presses include Komori Corporation, Heidelberg, MAN Roland and Kodak. Each of these companies produces high quality printing presses that are used by businesses worldwide. 

Komori Corporation manufactures presses for printing sports balls, labels and other materials. They have competed in the world’s largest trade fairs including a recent exhibit at the 2008 World's Fair held in Morocco. Heidelberg is a German engineering company that was founded in 1747 to produce printing presses. Today they produce presses with perfect print registration. Roland Group was founded by an inventor in 1871 and manufactures printing presses with high quality design, precision engineering and excellent durability. Kodak is an American company that started out as a photography company, but now produces high quality printers for virtually any industry including film processing, security and retail merchandise. 

In order to find the right press for your business, you will want to examine various factors, including the press’s speed, quality and durability. 

Printing speed is measured by two factors: how long it takes to print a single page and how many pages can be done each hour. It’s important for a printing press to have efficient production time because time is money. 

One of the most common reasons for purchasing a printing press is durability. In order to get the most life out of your press, it is important that it be able to handle harsh environments such as extreme heat or freezing temperatures. Another important consideration is the quality of the construction. A press that is poorly constructed will not be able to withstand harsh usage and may not last very long. In order to guarantee that your press will be able to withstand the demands of severe weather, it’s best to purchase a press from a reputable manufacturer like Komori Corporation, Heidelberg, or Kodak. 

It’s important for you to know exactly how much money you are looking to spend on your press before shopping around for prices. 

When purchasing a printing press, you should consider its size. The typical size for a printing press ranges from 80" to 120" in width. 

The capacity of a printing press is measured by the number of impressions that it can produce per hour. For example, if your business plan calls for producing 50 000 copies each hour, you should purchase a press with a production speed of at least 50 000 copies per hour. If your business plan calls for less than 5000 copies an hour, you should consider other options such as digital or offset printers. 

There are several methods that can be used to print on a printing press, depending on the type and quality of the documents being produced. 

A.Front View: The most common type of printing press is the offset press. An offset press consists of a matrix that contains holes that are arranged along its right and left sides. After the paper is placed into the press, its top sheet (the one furthest away from the matrix) is lifted, exposing the sheet with holes towards the top of the machine while leaving sheet with holes at the bottom covered. A form seal feeds ink to a roller; this roller then pushes ink onto a receiving surface or paper through tiny nozzles. The process is repeated onto all six sides multiple times as specified by your document’s size and print specifications. 

B.Side View: The other type of printing press is the web press. Web presses use a large flat plate that consists of an inking element to push ink onto paper. The plate is located above a receiving surface, which is called the web. When the plate passes over a sheet, it inks it and then pushes it out of the way. This process is repeated over and over until all sheets have been printed. 

C.Below the Plate: Another printing method known as lithography uses a process called photoetching to print onto a surface or substrate beneath the printing plate itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important for you to do your research when looking for the right printing press in order to guarantee that you find a press that will serve your needs and meet the quality standards you have set. It is also important to make sure that a press purchased from a reputable manufacturer will withstand heavy traffic or harsh conditions. 

To learn which type of printing press would be best for your business, you can contact an expert at Komori Corporation at (800) 327-7722 or Heidelberg USA at (888) 944-4444 or Kodak Corporate at (800) 686-6111.