By Marcelo Duran
Associate Editor
ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s not easy reinventing a newspaper when the newspaper itself is the one spreading the bad news.
But that’s just one of the obstacles Brian Tierney faces as he attempts to revitalize The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.
“If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about newspapers, it’s that there isn’t an industry out there that doesn’t kick itself in the rear end more frequently and more dramatically than this business,” said Tierney, chief executive officer and publisher of Philadelphia Media Holdings.
Tierney, along with Michael Reed, president and chief executive officer of GateHouse Media Inc. and William Dean Singleton, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Media News Group, were the keynote speakers at this year’s NAA Marketing Conference.
Their message: Newspapers need to be aggressive innovators to fend off stiff competition in their quest to achieve local news dominance and ad dollars.
Tierney, the former advertising executive who implemented a number of new initiatives at the Philadelphia papers, said that newspapers are doing a disservice to themselves by focusing too much on the negative business and not enough on the positive.
Burying the lede
Case in point: When The Inquirer reported its first circulation gains in a number of years, the story was buried on page 3 of the business section.
“You will never see Brian Williams begin his broadcast by rending his garments and saying that a third of the people who used to watch me aren’t even watching me anymore,” Tierney said.
What newspapers are dealing with is more competition and it’s important to maintain their local audience.
“Let’s talk about the assets that we have,” said Tierney. “There are all kinds of challenges out there but I really see as an outsider the strengths of the industry and we need to understand them, focus on them and invest in those and get over it.”
A key part of Tierney’s strategy is to attract women aged 35 years and up.
To that end, Philadelphia Media Holdings launched several programs geared toward wooing that demographic, programs involving targeted advertising and promotions (see sidebar).
He also stressed papers should launch low-cost experiments and explore e-commerce initiatives.
But more importantly, he said, newspapers need to promote the value they provide their communities.
“We’re proud to put on the front of our Sunday paper (that the paper) contains $722, or $638, worth of coupons inside,” he said. “The journalists don’t exactly love that but I’ll take them anyway I can; If that’s what it take to get our consumers to come out with a little bit of kibble like a deer in the woods.”
Moving ahead
Singleton stated that while the United States is poised to enter a recession, now is the time for newspapers to move forward with the right strategies.
The key focus for newspapers is to protect and serve the core printed product and to expand the online business and develop new niche products, he said.
“Right now we are facing a secular and cyclical downturn and it’s important not to get the two mixed up,” said Singleton. “We’ve been going through secular change for several years. Our core has been smaller, advertisers have been shrinking while our online has been growing.”
Real estate and job listings may never come back to printed newspapers, but newspapers can still attract these revenues in their electronic editions, Singleton said.
He said he expects online revenues to contribute 20 percent of MNG’s sales by 2012 while sales from print advertising generate 65 percent. The remainder, he said, will come from niche and specialty products. According to a memo he issued in late 2007, Singleton said MNG currently gets 89 percent of its revenues from display advertising while online contributes about 7 percent.
Reed, meantime, said the industry has to continue to invest in and train its sales force.
“We have gotten increasingly complex compared to 20, 30, 40 years ago when we just put our daily newspaper on the street,” Reed said. “That’s not the case anymore. We have a plethora of niche products, weeklies, monthlies, special sections, and our daily and online products.”
Newspaper sales reps must know the product mixes, the community and the competition and be willing to change. Singleton stressed feet on the streets, while Reed said his company’s strengths lie in knowing the community and integrating the newspaper within that market.
As a result, GateHouse, which largely owns newspapers in small and mid-sized markets, has been able to avoid some of the classified revenues meltdown and cyclical downturn that’s affected its larger counterparts, Reed said.
As for feet on the street, “You can’t sell what we have to offer if you don’t have people to sell it,” Singleton said.
“We need to sell to the advertisers and more importantly, the customers we don’t have, and find out what problems we need to solve, what solutions we need to provide for them.”
Still, Tierney said, the severe cost pressures newspapers are now facing won’t end anytime soon. Trimming staff, he said, is a consequence of the current business environment.
“Quite frankly, there’s a sense of entitlement and lamentation about the past and the core of our employees (is) not stepping up to the game the way we need them to,” he said.
“We are changing that mindset. We have been able to redo our contracts with union leaders to get that and they’ve been helping getting people up and out who do not want to step up to the game.”
Yet even as newspapers are forced to resize their operations, publishers still must be open to new ideas and take chances when appropriate, Tierney said.
“The key is to experiment, to make a lot of small bets. Don’t bet the house on any one thing, but why not try something with a small investment but high potential down the road,” he said.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Digital printing, automation to drive drupa '08
By Mary L. Van Meter
Publisher
DUSSELDORF, Germany — With more than 550 million newspapers printed worldwide each day, the power of the printed word remains strong, said officials at a weeklong event held last month to promote drupa 2008.
Newspapers are just one segment of the millions of tons of printed materials produced each year, said Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, chairman of drupa 2008 and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer AG.
Bolza-Schunemann said contemporary newspapers have little to fear in comparison to Web sites, particularly since users still rate papers as friendlier and easier to read. “Consumers rate nothing as highly as newspapers in terms of credibility,” he said. Still, he said integrated workflow and process control will become more critical factors as publishers find ways to cut production costs. “Automation will be a key factor,” he said.
Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, chairman of drupa 2008 and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer AG, touted the power of print at the January drupa preview. Photos: Newspapers & Technology
The global volume of printed materials, he said, is increasing at an annual clip of 3 percent to 5 percent. In more populous nations such as China and India, print growth is galloping along at double-digit rates, he said.
Bolza-Schunemann, along with drupa CEO Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, kicked off drupa Media Week. This year’s drupa, from May 29 through June 11, will showcase more than 1,800 exhibitors.
Among the key technologies drupa visitors can expect to see are those related to digital printing, along with an increased focus on automated and touchless workflow solutions, vendors said.
Companies such as Screen, Kodak, Ricoh, Fujifilm Corp. and Xerox Corp. said they’ll demonstrate hybrid applications based on the nexus of digital and offset technology.
These print-on-demand and Web-to-print approaches are geared to helping printers expand margins and attract new revenue streams.
Among drupa developments:
•Domino Printing Sciences said it would release two newspaper-oriented inkjet-based variable-print products, the K150 inkjet printer and version 4.5 of the vendor’s Bitjet printing system. Both enable high-speed inline inkjet printing and both can be integrated with web offset and flexo presslines.
•Screen previewed the TruePress Jet 520, a full-color variable printing system, as well as the PlateRite 2000+ thermal computer-to-plate system.
The TruePress can print different images and text on each page and features a roll-fed paper transport system, according to Tim Taylor, marketing director (see photo, page 24). Taylor said the system can be used with any uncoated newspaper stock and will be aimed at newspapers that want to produce print editions at remote sites.
“CTP represents 90 percent of Screen gross revenues and we are very committed to this market,” Taylor said. “But because Drupa only comes around every four years, we will devote a majority of our booth to print-on-demand to showcase that we are in the market.”
The 2000+, meantime, can produce 106 broadsheet or 49 panorama plates per hour and is Screen’s fastest machine. It’s available immediately.
•Ricoh showcased its Ricoh Pro C900 and C900s digital printer. Designed for high-volume print customers, it is integrated with a range of inline finishing devices that support perfect binding, ring binding and other capabilities.
•Presstek Inc. said it will display its chemistry-free platemaking systems, its line of 52DI and 34DI digital printers and its Momentum Pro workflow software.
The 52DI is a landscape digital offset press that can support FM screening without additional time or expense, Presstek said. The 34DI is a portrait format digital press.
•Fujifilm and Xerox said they would cross-promote each other’s digital printing capabilities as part of their reseller agreement. Among specific products to be displayed will be Fujifilm’s Brilla HD Pro-V chemistry-free digital plate and PressMax pressroom chemistry.
•Kodak said it will demonstrate its next-generation digital inkjet press, Kodak Stream Concept Press.
The high-speed press features print resolution that exceeds 600 dots per inch and relies on continuous inkjet technology. Kodak said Stream will be geared to commercial printers that produce monthly page volumes of 10 million or more.
“Stream Technology will bring some exciting changes to the industry and this technology demonstration will be an impressive display of its offset class capabilities,” said Ronen Cohen, vice president of marketing of Kodak’s inkjet printing solutions.
Additionally, Kodak will display Prinergy 5.0 workflow software and other CTP systems and associated software geared to commercial printers. —NT
Editor’s note: Newspapers & Technology is one of only seven U.S. publications to be selected as a drupa 2008 media partner and the only one whose primary focus is newspaper production.
Publisher
DUSSELDORF, Germany — With more than 550 million newspapers printed worldwide each day, the power of the printed word remains strong, said officials at a weeklong event held last month to promote drupa 2008.
Newspapers are just one segment of the millions of tons of printed materials produced each year, said Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, chairman of drupa 2008 and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer AG.
Bolza-Schunemann said contemporary newspapers have little to fear in comparison to Web sites, particularly since users still rate papers as friendlier and easier to read. “Consumers rate nothing as highly as newspapers in terms of credibility,” he said. Still, he said integrated workflow and process control will become more critical factors as publishers find ways to cut production costs. “Automation will be a key factor,” he said.
Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, chairman of drupa 2008 and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer AG, touted the power of print at the January drupa preview. Photos: Newspapers & TechnologyThe global volume of printed materials, he said, is increasing at an annual clip of 3 percent to 5 percent. In more populous nations such as China and India, print growth is galloping along at double-digit rates, he said.
Bolza-Schunemann, along with drupa CEO Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, kicked off drupa Media Week. This year’s drupa, from May 29 through June 11, will showcase more than 1,800 exhibitors.
Among the key technologies drupa visitors can expect to see are those related to digital printing, along with an increased focus on automated and touchless workflow solutions, vendors said.
Companies such as Screen, Kodak, Ricoh, Fujifilm Corp. and Xerox Corp. said they’ll demonstrate hybrid applications based on the nexus of digital and offset technology.
These print-on-demand and Web-to-print approaches are geared to helping printers expand margins and attract new revenue streams.
Among drupa developments:
•Domino Printing Sciences said it would release two newspaper-oriented inkjet-based variable-print products, the K150 inkjet printer and version 4.5 of the vendor’s Bitjet printing system. Both enable high-speed inline inkjet printing and both can be integrated with web offset and flexo presslines.
•Screen previewed the TruePress Jet 520, a full-color variable printing system, as well as the PlateRite 2000+ thermal computer-to-plate system.
The TruePress can print different images and text on each page and features a roll-fed paper transport system, according to Tim Taylor, marketing director (see photo, page 24). Taylor said the system can be used with any uncoated newspaper stock and will be aimed at newspapers that want to produce print editions at remote sites.
“CTP represents 90 percent of Screen gross revenues and we are very committed to this market,” Taylor said. “But because Drupa only comes around every four years, we will devote a majority of our booth to print-on-demand to showcase that we are in the market.”
The 2000+, meantime, can produce 106 broadsheet or 49 panorama plates per hour and is Screen’s fastest machine. It’s available immediately.
•Ricoh showcased its Ricoh Pro C900 and C900s digital printer. Designed for high-volume print customers, it is integrated with a range of inline finishing devices that support perfect binding, ring binding and other capabilities.
•Presstek Inc. said it will display its chemistry-free platemaking systems, its line of 52DI and 34DI digital printers and its Momentum Pro workflow software.
The 52DI is a landscape digital offset press that can support FM screening without additional time or expense, Presstek said. The 34DI is a portrait format digital press.
•Fujifilm and Xerox said they would cross-promote each other’s digital printing capabilities as part of their reseller agreement. Among specific products to be displayed will be Fujifilm’s Brilla HD Pro-V chemistry-free digital plate and PressMax pressroom chemistry.
•Kodak said it will demonstrate its next-generation digital inkjet press, Kodak Stream Concept Press.
The high-speed press features print resolution that exceeds 600 dots per inch and relies on continuous inkjet technology. Kodak said Stream will be geared to commercial printers that produce monthly page volumes of 10 million or more.
“Stream Technology will bring some exciting changes to the industry and this technology demonstration will be an impressive display of its offset class capabilities,” said Ronen Cohen, vice president of marketing of Kodak’s inkjet printing solutions.
Additionally, Kodak will display Prinergy 5.0 workflow software and other CTP systems and associated software geared to commercial printers. —NT
Editor’s note: Newspapers & Technology is one of only seven U.S. publications to be selected as a drupa 2008 media partner and the only one whose primary focus is newspaper production.
Digital print vendors make strides, but will newspapers answer call?
By Don Piontek
Special to Newspapers & Technology
Over the past five years, digital print technology has expanded its turf dramatically.
In commercial print, book printing, direct mail and transactional printing, digital production is now considered an everyday technology.
And there’s more to come. By 2012, it’s estimated that digital printing will be approaching parity with offset printing as a component of the graphics universe.
The exception to this rule? Newspaper printing.
Photo: Screen
The Screen TruePress Jet 520, to be introduced at drupa, is capable of running full 4-color at speeds of up to 209 feet per minute.
Still mostly a web offset world, newspaper production has been little impacted by the digital print revolution. But this may change in the next year or two, thanks to the introduction of high-speed digital systems that boast increased quality, color and inline finishing.
Many major high-speed digital print systems have been introduced over the past year and there are more to come.
Most (not all) offer, or will offer, continuous-web inkjet printers with web speeds of up to 650 feet per minute and printable widths of more than 20 inches. For the most part, these machines print at a resolution of 600-by-600 dots per inch, and cover the process color gamut well.
Newspapers take a serious look
No chance of anyone mistaking their output for offset, but digital output has gotten quite good and it’s getting better all the time.
These new printers will prompt the newspaper community to take a serious look at digital, and the advantages it brings to their business.
One area drawing interest is the insert, or FSI, business.
The FSI business at major metro dailies was once controlled by the big food and retail chains that gravure-printed millions of flyers for mass distribution over a metro’s entire geographical area. That’s long gone.
Today, microzoning in the newspaper-packaging department and better targeting now permit targeted messages to be delivered close to each store’s “ground zero” radius.
As a result, long insert runs are now broken up into many zoned segments. Still, the FSI production process is wholly an offset one, with an average of six weeks of lead time between artwork and actual inserting. And of most firms using FSI advertising, the majority are still national big box food, retail and electronics chains such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.
Valuable market untapped
This has left a valuable potential market untapped by the major metro dailies: The smaller mom-and-pop stores that would like to distribute close to their establishments’ radius. This is where digital could fill the gap. Picture a 500-foot-per-minute color inkjet press (or two) located in the packaging department, cranking out quality color, microzoned quantities of inserts on demand for smaller retailers.
Remember that such a press requires only a certified .PDF or PostScript file. No plates. Insert versions can run back-to-back with no downtime whatsoever for changeover. Insert orders could potentially be accepted up to a few days (or less) before the packaging operation began. A digital in-plant process would permit newspapers to offer insert distribution to this non-chain retail market with affordable production costs and selected distribution.
But let’s take this a bit further.
How about neighborhood-specific publications? A major metro area is not a homogenized geographic block. It’s composed of many neighborhoods, each with its own character.
Digital print could enable the creation of neighborhood-tailored publications that can be distributed quickly and cost efficiently. This technology could open up new markets for metro dailies. Papers as varied as the Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post and Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel all print hyper-local weeklies tailored to particular neighborhoods or suburbs. Why not print these on digital systems instead of web offset machines?
More than inserts
Today’s high-speed digital printers can crank out complete publications and not just inserts.
Kodak, for example, in 2006 partnered with Swiss manufacturer Hunkeler to develop an integrated newspaper printing and cutting-sheeting-folding system that can pump out up to 1,000 40-page newspapers per hour.
The Kodak Versamark system has created great interest in Europe, and a few metro dailies in the United States have given it very serious consideration.
Editor’s note: Kodak will introduce a higher speed digital printer at this year’s drupa. The system will use the vendor’s Stream continuous inkjet technology and feature a thermal, drop-on-demand design.
Meantime, The New York Times is using continuous web printers from another digital press vendor, Oce, to produce its European editions.
The printed papers are distributed to newsstands at major European airports and cities each day.
By using digital technology, The Times is able to close its European edition much later than it would have had it used conventional web offset printing. The final layout is downloaded from the United States and the printers begin spinning up within minutes.
On-demand possibilities
How about a scenario where these digital printers are based at major U.S. airports such as O’Hare International in Chicago or Hartsfield in Atlanta?
RFID technology located in various airport newsstands could automatically transmit reprint alerts to the system, which would then proceed to print more copies. No more long truck trips in heavy traffic in order to deliver copies from the plant. Not only that, such a system could print the great majority of newspapers sold at the newsstands, thus increasing the digital printer’s utilization and efficiency.
High-speed continuous web digital print systems have found homes in a wide variety of applications that were formerly offset only.
Book printers use these systems to produce small orders, with runs as low as one or two books, on demand.
One such print-on-demand publisher, LaVergne, Tenn.-based Lightning Source Inc., uses its digital foundation to fill 19,000 book orders daily at an average of 1.9 unique books per order.
Transactional and financial services printers, meantime, are using the color capabilities of these printers to incorporate promotional messages into customers’ statements.
Potential customers see the output quality and speed capability and find lots of applications that can migrate to digital from offset. Although these digital presses aren’t cheap — some integrated systems can cost more than $3 million — newspapers should have no problems finding profitable niches or new business opportunities where high-speed digital print could be part of the solution.
All it takes is imagination.
Editor’s note: British manufacturer IBIS Bindery Systems Ltd. offers a high-speed folding, stitching, gluing and trimming system called the Smart-binder, which the vendor said is suited for many in-line digital newspaper applications.
Don Piontek is the Minneapolis-based U.S. representative for digital finishing systems manufacturer IBIS Bindery Systems. He can be reached at 952.937.5100 or via e-mail at finishingres@qwest.net.
Special to Newspapers & Technology
Over the past five years, digital print technology has expanded its turf dramatically.
In commercial print, book printing, direct mail and transactional printing, digital production is now considered an everyday technology.
And there’s more to come. By 2012, it’s estimated that digital printing will be approaching parity with offset printing as a component of the graphics universe.
The exception to this rule? Newspaper printing.
Photo: Screen
The Screen TruePress Jet 520, to be introduced at drupa, is capable of running full 4-color at speeds of up to 209 feet per minute.
Still mostly a web offset world, newspaper production has been little impacted by the digital print revolution. But this may change in the next year or two, thanks to the introduction of high-speed digital systems that boast increased quality, color and inline finishing.
Many major high-speed digital print systems have been introduced over the past year and there are more to come.
Most (not all) offer, or will offer, continuous-web inkjet printers with web speeds of up to 650 feet per minute and printable widths of more than 20 inches. For the most part, these machines print at a resolution of 600-by-600 dots per inch, and cover the process color gamut well.
Newspapers take a serious look
No chance of anyone mistaking their output for offset, but digital output has gotten quite good and it’s getting better all the time.
These new printers will prompt the newspaper community to take a serious look at digital, and the advantages it brings to their business.
One area drawing interest is the insert, or FSI, business.
The FSI business at major metro dailies was once controlled by the big food and retail chains that gravure-printed millions of flyers for mass distribution over a metro’s entire geographical area. That’s long gone.
Today, microzoning in the newspaper-packaging department and better targeting now permit targeted messages to be delivered close to each store’s “ground zero” radius.
As a result, long insert runs are now broken up into many zoned segments. Still, the FSI production process is wholly an offset one, with an average of six weeks of lead time between artwork and actual inserting. And of most firms using FSI advertising, the majority are still national big box food, retail and electronics chains such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.
Valuable market untapped
This has left a valuable potential market untapped by the major metro dailies: The smaller mom-and-pop stores that would like to distribute close to their establishments’ radius. This is where digital could fill the gap. Picture a 500-foot-per-minute color inkjet press (or two) located in the packaging department, cranking out quality color, microzoned quantities of inserts on demand for smaller retailers.
Remember that such a press requires only a certified .PDF or PostScript file. No plates. Insert versions can run back-to-back with no downtime whatsoever for changeover. Insert orders could potentially be accepted up to a few days (or less) before the packaging operation began. A digital in-plant process would permit newspapers to offer insert distribution to this non-chain retail market with affordable production costs and selected distribution.
But let’s take this a bit further.
How about neighborhood-specific publications? A major metro area is not a homogenized geographic block. It’s composed of many neighborhoods, each with its own character.
Digital print could enable the creation of neighborhood-tailored publications that can be distributed quickly and cost efficiently. This technology could open up new markets for metro dailies. Papers as varied as the Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post and Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel all print hyper-local weeklies tailored to particular neighborhoods or suburbs. Why not print these on digital systems instead of web offset machines?
More than inserts
Today’s high-speed digital printers can crank out complete publications and not just inserts.
Kodak, for example, in 2006 partnered with Swiss manufacturer Hunkeler to develop an integrated newspaper printing and cutting-sheeting-folding system that can pump out up to 1,000 40-page newspapers per hour.
The Kodak Versamark system has created great interest in Europe, and a few metro dailies in the United States have given it very serious consideration.
Editor’s note: Kodak will introduce a higher speed digital printer at this year’s drupa. The system will use the vendor’s Stream continuous inkjet technology and feature a thermal, drop-on-demand design.
Meantime, The New York Times is using continuous web printers from another digital press vendor, Oce, to produce its European editions.
The printed papers are distributed to newsstands at major European airports and cities each day.
By using digital technology, The Times is able to close its European edition much later than it would have had it used conventional web offset printing. The final layout is downloaded from the United States and the printers begin spinning up within minutes.
On-demand possibilities
How about a scenario where these digital printers are based at major U.S. airports such as O’Hare International in Chicago or Hartsfield in Atlanta?
RFID technology located in various airport newsstands could automatically transmit reprint alerts to the system, which would then proceed to print more copies. No more long truck trips in heavy traffic in order to deliver copies from the plant. Not only that, such a system could print the great majority of newspapers sold at the newsstands, thus increasing the digital printer’s utilization and efficiency.
High-speed continuous web digital print systems have found homes in a wide variety of applications that were formerly offset only.
Book printers use these systems to produce small orders, with runs as low as one or two books, on demand.
One such print-on-demand publisher, LaVergne, Tenn.-based Lightning Source Inc., uses its digital foundation to fill 19,000 book orders daily at an average of 1.9 unique books per order.
Transactional and financial services printers, meantime, are using the color capabilities of these printers to incorporate promotional messages into customers’ statements.
Potential customers see the output quality and speed capability and find lots of applications that can migrate to digital from offset. Although these digital presses aren’t cheap — some integrated systems can cost more than $3 million — newspapers should have no problems finding profitable niches or new business opportunities where high-speed digital print could be part of the solution.
All it takes is imagination.
Editor’s note: British manufacturer IBIS Bindery Systems Ltd. offers a high-speed folding, stitching, gluing and trimming system called the Smart-binder, which the vendor said is suited for many in-line digital newspaper applications.
Don Piontek is the Minneapolis-based U.S. representative for digital finishing systems manufacturer IBIS Bindery Systems. He can be reached at 952.937.5100 or via e-mail at finishingres@qwest.net.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Graph Expo gives attendees better taste of digital future
By Mary L. Van Meter
Publisher
CHICAGO — Last month’s Graph Expo hinted at some intriguing technologies to come for newspapers, including so-called “lights-out” digital production and variable printing options for both press and mailrooms.
Among developments (in alphabetical order):
Agfa: Upgraded apps
Agfa introduced ApogeeX 4.0, an upgrade of its PDF- and JDF-enabled digital workflow software. Among new features is support for Adobe Systems Inc.’s PDF Print Engine, enhanced automation, a digital QuickStrip for page rendering and ink-savings capabilities. Additionally, Agfa rolled out a new version of its OptiInk ink optimization app that it contends can reduce ink costs by as much as 30 percent. Finally, Agfa showcased a high-throughput violet computer-to-plate engine for its Avalon LF XT+ platesetter. Look for Agfa to unveil a UV digital printer for newspapers at drupa 2008.
Cold Jet: Press cleaning service
Cold Jet demonstrated its system for cleaning pressrooms with dry ice blasting equipment. The system uses an air blasting technique to clean surfaces by embrittling the dirt particles to be removed.
Denex: Double-copy detection
Denex premiered its Pro double-copy-detection system. The device, outfitted with application software and mounted on the conveyor, is aimed at eliminating inserter jams caused by double copies in the gripper conveyor. It also detects single copies that can cause miscounts in bundles where there should be two copies per gripper.
Carl Carroll, Denex’ sales manager, displays the company’s laser copy sensor with Pro double-copy detection.
Dynaric: Cross-strapper
Dynaric displayed its latest automatic cross-strapping machine, the NP5000X. The equipment uses AC servo drive technology and can produce up to 20 cross-strapped bundles per minute. Touchscreen controls streamline management, Dynaric said.
Dynaric demonstrated its high-speed NP5000X cross-strapper at the show.
GMG: New color management
GMG trotted out new versions of its color management apps, GMG ColorProof, GMG ColorServer and GMG InkOptimizer. Version 4.5 of the apps feature new profile and driver updates as well as stronger image sharpening and broader inkjet printer support, among other capabilities. More than 100 U.S. newspapers use the supplier’s software for color management, including The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
GMI: Press monitoring app
Graphics Microsystems Inc. unveiled Spectral Press Expert, a closed-loop press performance and diagnostic app that provides trend analysis and event triggers that can alert operators in the event of press problems. GMI said it engineered the software with more than 180 levels of diagnostics. It uses colorimetric measurements to assess paper, ink and the colors produced for solids, traps and grays and then compares the press’ performance against known data in an effort to match standard targets. The browser-based SPX lets users monitor press performance remotely and easily send operational data to other users, GMI said.
Nela: Slip Sheeter
Nela introduced Slip Sheeter, a device that automatically places slipsheets between plates that have been punched and bent.
Plates are then transported via conveyor to a barcode reader to determine if the plate needs to be stacked or transported into the distribution unit. If a plate is marked as “store with slipsheets,” a flip arm transports the plate in the stacker. The slipsheets rest between each plate. The unit holds approximately 30 slipsheets (depending on thickness), Nela said.
Nipson: Spot color add-on
Nipson, which counts some European newspapers among its customers, introduced spot color add-on capabilities to its line of VaryPress digital presses. The SCS Spot Color System lets users add between one and four spot colors to their production, the company said. VaryPress digital presses can support production speeds of up to 500 feet per minute on a printable web of 18.5 inches (web width of 20.5 inches) with 600 dot-per-inch quality. The press can be equipped with the Hunkeler finishing system.
Rima-System: Stackers
Rima-System exhibited its RS 51 and RS 36 high-speed stackers as well as its horizontal log stackers. The RS 51 is a non-compensating vertical lift stacker while the RS 36 is an indexing compensating stacker. It’s aimed at shingled streams. Meantime, Rima said Belarusian newspaper printer BPH installed three RS 3217 stackers behind its MAN Roland Uniset press.
Dutch newspaper printer Janssen Pers purchased an RS 830 trimming line while Italian printer Sarnub installed a system consisting of an 830 trimmer in conjunction with a 36 high-speed stacker, the firm said.
Publisher
CHICAGO — Last month’s Graph Expo hinted at some intriguing technologies to come for newspapers, including so-called “lights-out” digital production and variable printing options for both press and mailrooms.
Among developments (in alphabetical order):
Agfa: Upgraded apps
Agfa introduced ApogeeX 4.0, an upgrade of its PDF- and JDF-enabled digital workflow software. Among new features is support for Adobe Systems Inc.’s PDF Print Engine, enhanced automation, a digital QuickStrip for page rendering and ink-savings capabilities. Additionally, Agfa rolled out a new version of its OptiInk ink optimization app that it contends can reduce ink costs by as much as 30 percent. Finally, Agfa showcased a high-throughput violet computer-to-plate engine for its Avalon LF XT+ platesetter. Look for Agfa to unveil a UV digital printer for newspapers at drupa 2008.
Cold Jet: Press cleaning service
Cold Jet demonstrated its system for cleaning pressrooms with dry ice blasting equipment. The system uses an air blasting technique to clean surfaces by embrittling the dirt particles to be removed.
Denex: Double-copy detection
Denex premiered its Pro double-copy-detection system. The device, outfitted with application software and mounted on the conveyor, is aimed at eliminating inserter jams caused by double copies in the gripper conveyor. It also detects single copies that can cause miscounts in bundles where there should be two copies per gripper.
Carl Carroll, Denex’ sales manager, displays the company’s laser copy sensor with Pro double-copy detection.
Dynaric: Cross-strapper
Dynaric displayed its latest automatic cross-strapping machine, the NP5000X. The equipment uses AC servo drive technology and can produce up to 20 cross-strapped bundles per minute. Touchscreen controls streamline management, Dynaric said.
Dynaric demonstrated its high-speed NP5000X cross-strapper at the show.
GMG: New color management
GMG trotted out new versions of its color management apps, GMG ColorProof, GMG ColorServer and GMG InkOptimizer. Version 4.5 of the apps feature new profile and driver updates as well as stronger image sharpening and broader inkjet printer support, among other capabilities. More than 100 U.S. newspapers use the supplier’s software for color management, including The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
GMI: Press monitoring app
Graphics Microsystems Inc. unveiled Spectral Press Expert, a closed-loop press performance and diagnostic app that provides trend analysis and event triggers that can alert operators in the event of press problems. GMI said it engineered the software with more than 180 levels of diagnostics. It uses colorimetric measurements to assess paper, ink and the colors produced for solids, traps and grays and then compares the press’ performance against known data in an effort to match standard targets. The browser-based SPX lets users monitor press performance remotely and easily send operational data to other users, GMI said.
Nela: Slip Sheeter
Nela introduced Slip Sheeter, a device that automatically places slipsheets between plates that have been punched and bent.
Plates are then transported via conveyor to a barcode reader to determine if the plate needs to be stacked or transported into the distribution unit. If a plate is marked as “store with slipsheets,” a flip arm transports the plate in the stacker. The slipsheets rest between each plate. The unit holds approximately 30 slipsheets (depending on thickness), Nela said.
Nipson: Spot color add-on
Nipson, which counts some European newspapers among its customers, introduced spot color add-on capabilities to its line of VaryPress digital presses. The SCS Spot Color System lets users add between one and four spot colors to their production, the company said. VaryPress digital presses can support production speeds of up to 500 feet per minute on a printable web of 18.5 inches (web width of 20.5 inches) with 600 dot-per-inch quality. The press can be equipped with the Hunkeler finishing system.
Rima-System: Stackers
Rima-System exhibited its RS 51 and RS 36 high-speed stackers as well as its horizontal log stackers. The RS 51 is a non-compensating vertical lift stacker while the RS 36 is an indexing compensating stacker. It’s aimed at shingled streams. Meantime, Rima said Belarusian newspaper printer BPH installed three RS 3217 stackers behind its MAN Roland Uniset press.
Dutch newspaper printer Janssen Pers purchased an RS 830 trimming line while Italian printer Sarnub installed a system consisting of an 830 trimmer in conjunction with a 36 high-speed stacker, the firm said.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
ChiTrib launches civic sites
By Marcelo Duran
Associate Editor
The Chicago Tribune last month threw its hat into the citizen journalism ring as it launched TribLocal, an online publishing venture using software from Kodak and Advanced Technical Solutions Inc.
The newspaper’s (Monday-Friday, 576,132; Saturday, 501,324; Sunday, 937,907) pilot program consists of two new Web sites covering nine Chicago suburban communities.
“Once registered, users will be able to read and submit news stories and photos similar to other citizen journalism sites,” said Ted Biedron, president of Chicagoland Publishing Co., a subsidiary of the Chicago Tribune.
Ted Biedron
The first cluster of communities covered in the project include St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, Elburn and Maple Park. The second consists of Orland Park, Orland Hills, Tinley Park and Homer Glen. The towns included are just a handful of the scores of suburbs in the Chicagoland area.
“The entire Chicago area contains 170-plus suburbs so with any project of this nature you’ll have to make sure you are scalable,” Biedron said.
The content on the sites is a mixture of news stories generated from TribLocal journalists as well as local residents. Two professional journalists and one sales rep will cover each cluster.
Online and print
For now, TribLocal will be an online-only venture. But Biedron said the Tribune plans to print microzoned tab editions once the TribLocal sites gain traction. Each edition will encompass about 12,000 to 15,000 copies and be produced by third-party printers.
The tabs will be delivered to home subscribers and available with single copies, he said.
The Tribune started exploring the idea of launching a citizen journalism program last spring, working with vendor mWave, which ATS acquired earlier this year.
“Last year we chose mWave, they were the original vendor and we felt they had an opportunity to create something unique,” he said.
The Tribune is the first newspaper to be using Kodak’s new Microzone Publishing Solution, which includes software that lets newspapers manage citizen journalism Web sites and associated print products.
“We worked together to develop the citizen journalism portal and Tribocal will be the first newspaper to use the new software,” he said. “There’s a lot of underlying technology that enables the site to post online quickly and efficiently.”
Kodak signed an agreement with ATS to jointly sell and support the microzone publishing software.
Kodak, ATS teaming up for venture
“We have a very tight go-to-market partnership that will see both Kodak and ATS sales people promoting and selling the Microzone solution in the industry,” said ATS New Media Group Business Development Director David Monks.
Kodak’s MPS consists of three products, Citizen Journalism, Advertising and Microzone Management.
“We think of it as a multichannel publishing system, enabling newspaper publishers to produce relevant content on the Web as well as in print,” said Monks.
Monks said the MPS’ core is the management app, which lets newspaper publishers assemble content, edit copy, format pages and publish output for print and online versions.
“It will enable publishers to have as many portals as they want,” he said. “They can target as finely as they want to their readership. It may not even be a community, it might be a specialty organization, but the portal will be configured according to those demographics.”
Monks said MPS’ features would let publishers reduce the amount of oversight needed to manage the community sites, although he doubts most publishers would relinquish control.
“My guess is that most newspaper publishers will not want to do that. They will have an editorial staff that will check the stories being published,” he said. “The solution we are delivering provides some substantial tools and automation features that enable publishers to do a number of tasks as they determine what should and shouldn’t be published.”
The Citizen Journalism app lets users submit stories, photographs and community listing events while the ad management module allows advertisers to oversee how they place, and pay for, ads slated for both online and print.
Paul Lynch, the Tribune’s senior manager of quality and commercial print, said the paper received positive feedback from communities in the TribLocal area as well as inquires from neighboring communities asking when their sites are going up.
“Without a doubt we’ll be adding to the list of communities,” he said. “Local advertisers have begun to fill our ad inventory, something that bodes well for this new publishing model. The Kodak reverse publishing module will let us deliver narrowly targeted print products economically.”
Associate Editor
The Chicago Tribune last month threw its hat into the citizen journalism ring as it launched TribLocal, an online publishing venture using software from Kodak and Advanced Technical Solutions Inc.
The newspaper’s (Monday-Friday, 576,132; Saturday, 501,324; Sunday, 937,907) pilot program consists of two new Web sites covering nine Chicago suburban communities.
“Once registered, users will be able to read and submit news stories and photos similar to other citizen journalism sites,” said Ted Biedron, president of Chicagoland Publishing Co., a subsidiary of the Chicago Tribune.
Ted BiedronThe first cluster of communities covered in the project include St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, Elburn and Maple Park. The second consists of Orland Park, Orland Hills, Tinley Park and Homer Glen. The towns included are just a handful of the scores of suburbs in the Chicagoland area.
“The entire Chicago area contains 170-plus suburbs so with any project of this nature you’ll have to make sure you are scalable,” Biedron said.
The content on the sites is a mixture of news stories generated from TribLocal journalists as well as local residents. Two professional journalists and one sales rep will cover each cluster.
Online and print
For now, TribLocal will be an online-only venture. But Biedron said the Tribune plans to print microzoned tab editions once the TribLocal sites gain traction. Each edition will encompass about 12,000 to 15,000 copies and be produced by third-party printers.
The tabs will be delivered to home subscribers and available with single copies, he said.
The Tribune started exploring the idea of launching a citizen journalism program last spring, working with vendor mWave, which ATS acquired earlier this year.
“Last year we chose mWave, they were the original vendor and we felt they had an opportunity to create something unique,” he said.
The Tribune is the first newspaper to be using Kodak’s new Microzone Publishing Solution, which includes software that lets newspapers manage citizen journalism Web sites and associated print products.
“We worked together to develop the citizen journalism portal and Tribocal will be the first newspaper to use the new software,” he said. “There’s a lot of underlying technology that enables the site to post online quickly and efficiently.”
Kodak signed an agreement with ATS to jointly sell and support the microzone publishing software.
Kodak, ATS teaming up for venture
“We have a very tight go-to-market partnership that will see both Kodak and ATS sales people promoting and selling the Microzone solution in the industry,” said ATS New Media Group Business Development Director David Monks.
Kodak’s MPS consists of three products, Citizen Journalism, Advertising and Microzone Management.
“We think of it as a multichannel publishing system, enabling newspaper publishers to produce relevant content on the Web as well as in print,” said Monks.
Monks said the MPS’ core is the management app, which lets newspaper publishers assemble content, edit copy, format pages and publish output for print and online versions.
“It will enable publishers to have as many portals as they want,” he said. “They can target as finely as they want to their readership. It may not even be a community, it might be a specialty organization, but the portal will be configured according to those demographics.”
Monks said MPS’ features would let publishers reduce the amount of oversight needed to manage the community sites, although he doubts most publishers would relinquish control.
“My guess is that most newspaper publishers will not want to do that. They will have an editorial staff that will check the stories being published,” he said. “The solution we are delivering provides some substantial tools and automation features that enable publishers to do a number of tasks as they determine what should and shouldn’t be published.”
The Citizen Journalism app lets users submit stories, photographs and community listing events while the ad management module allows advertisers to oversee how they place, and pay for, ads slated for both online and print.
Paul Lynch, the Tribune’s senior manager of quality and commercial print, said the paper received positive feedback from communities in the TribLocal area as well as inquires from neighboring communities asking when their sites are going up.
“Without a doubt we’ll be adding to the list of communities,” he said. “Local advertisers have begun to fill our ad inventory, something that bodes well for this new publishing model. The Kodak reverse publishing module will let us deliver narrowly targeted print products economically.”
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