RDP showed its V-Series printing equipment for single-sided printing and demonstrated the Smart . Set 2000-Windows-based system to provide remote control of printing functions, acting on the entire process from press preparation to washout.
Hantish showed its Zirkon 6611 web offset press.
There are also suppliers of web presses who argue that adding too many automation features and technologies to web presses will not improve their printing costs. However, these manufacturers do their best to achieve the best features and the best level of operation for their equipment.
For Didde, the web press manufacturer whose core process development is focused on speeding up makeready, increasing stability, achieving high quality output, and making it easier to operate, introduced a BB double-sided offset press - the Excalibur model - during the show and claimed that it could be controlled using a computerized console.
Quality, a core issue for heatset web presses, was addressed by Quad-Stack, which produced a four-color, two-sided printing unit that could be attached to other manufacturers' equipment so that other unique-width, single-color equipment could take advantage of the four-color printing unit.
Man Roland's semi-automatic platechanging standard equipment, now a trend, was on display at the conference with its Rotoman equipment.
King Printing Equipment has perhaps the fastest cycle times in the business, with the shortest loading and unloading times on its horizontal web commercial presses and longitudinal web presses, and no need to disconnect rolls of paper during quick plate changes.
King was showing its newest printing press, the Print King IV longitudinal web press.
Timson also introduced its fast makeready press, the T-48A Bow Press.
Improvements in print quality, productivity and efficiency are all key factors in the web press model. But short-run jobs, too, are part of the web press job. Heidelberg introduced Sunday 2000 for short-run and long-run jobs.
KBA has introduced the KBA Compacta 818 web press with a semi-automatic plate loading system, in-line print control densitometer, and an automatic folder.
The Miracle presses take more account of the user's cost and quality concerns, and Miracle has also introduced its folders and consoles.
Solna has added folding, sheetfed printing and post-press finishing capabilities to its presses to meet a variety of production requirements. It introduced its C800 and D400 commercial web presses at the conference.
Matik North America showcased its Novaprint 680 press for short-run jobs, print material flexibility, fast job exchange, and advanced operations and information integration technologies.
Graphic Systems Sevices showcased its Conquest Series presses and Commander Series presses at Drupa.
Komori introduced its System 38SII and System 38S presses.