Customers who have devoted time to generating ICC profiles for printing devices, monitors and scanners are keen to see the same sort of control exercised over the web offset process. This is certainly true at Wyndeham Heron, one of the UK's leading quality web offset printers.

“One hundred percent of all work handled by Wyndeham Heron is now received in digital form, so managing data well and eliminating margins for error are the keys to unlocking the full productivity of our equipment and providing a cutting-edge service to our clients,” says John Newman, Works Director for Wyndeham Heron; “By working closely with suppliers such as QuadTech, we plan to identify every opportunity to do just that.”

Color Control System Is a “Necessity”

The company has invested in a QuadTech Color Control System, which Mr. Newman describes a “necessity” for every web press. The Color Control System has already demonstrated a significant ROI enabling the Maldon, Essex-based company, which operates seven web presses, to increase all aspects of operational effectiveness on two presses.

Wyndeham Heron has a mix of four- and eight-unit (16-, 32- and 64-page) web presses primarily for short- to medium-run magazine work. These include three MAN Rotoman 32-page presses, one MAN Lithoman IV 64-page press, one Harris M850C, a Baker Perkins G14 16-page press and a Baker Perkins G16 32-page press. The company has long held the view that a closed loop color control system would provide significant business benefits.

“We became QuadTech customers about eight years ago. In the beginning, we were simply looking to buy another press at a time when the Color Control System was just starting out,” said Mr. Newman. “Having seen a QuadTech presentation at the Printing Industries Research Association (PIRA), we visited various manufacturers in the U.S. and saw a range of alternative solutions. QuadTech was simply the best for our needs - a really important factor was the timely software updates.”

The Color Control System helps faster presses achieve the higher makeready speeds which enable better settling down of a section. “We can get into good copy rapidly with a closed loop color control system,” noted Mr. Newman. “Even cold starts are accounted for because ink is let out when the rollers are cold, then automatically reduced back down as the press warms up. This saves start-up waste.”

The QuadTech Color Control System is an integrated measurement and control system, capable of measuring density by the resulting ink film thickness on a running web press. The system locates, identifies and measures micro-sized control strips. These are analyzed and displayed on the press console. Variations from the desired measurements are signaled to the ink control system, enabling the system to adjust itself until it meets the prescribed printing conditions.

Enhanced Customer Confidence

For Mr. Newman, the benefits of QuadTech's Color Control System include: consistent color from press to press; quick and automatic attainment of target densities; independence from press operator skills; simultaneous setting of surfaces; reduction of makeready and run waste; cleaner running which results in reduced maintenance and fewer printing problems; lower consumables costs; flexible reporting capabilities and measurements; and improved customer satisfaction. CCS also ensures less hazardous running because there is less overinking, so less chance of emulsification.

Mr. Newman concludes, “You cannot put a price on the customer's reaction of pleasure when they experience fast, accurate adjustments and quicker color approval. While our quantifiable results with the Color Control System speak for themselves, the consequent customer confidence and trust is invaluable to a printer.”

Consistency is also a primary benefit of the QuadTech Color Control System for Mr. Newman. “Ask a printer what's best about closed loop, and the answer is consistency - especially for crossing pages and banners. In a nutshell, I would never contemplate buying another press without closed loop color control.”

Accurate Registration Translates to Greater Consistency

The most recent QuadTech solution to come online at Wyndeham Heron is the Ribbon Control System 4000. “We found that the ribbon-setter on one of our presses was lacking in registration speed - installing the Ribbon Control System 4000 brought it right up to speed. It has an easy-to-use graphical user interface which allows many different tasks to be carried out including controlling web guides and angle-bars, for correct side-lay and copy presentation,” explains Mr. Newman.

The Ribbon Control System 4000 works via a CCD camera mounted on a motorized transport bar, which is located on each ribbon lead, just prior to the folder's former board and cutting section. This enables the Ribbon Control System 4000 to continuously monitor, report and correct both print-to-cut and print-to-fold errors. The QuadTech solution could also control other devices using additional cameras.

“All the gutters, the margins, everything is correct which ensures consistency throughout the print run and then in the bindery. And, it saves folder-related makeready wastage,” continues Mr. Newman. “QuadTech's Ribbon Control System 4000 is a tool that has made an important contribution.”

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