Louisiana State Printing Opts for QuadTech

A QuadTech Register Guidance System with MultiCam and the QuadTech Register Motorization System were purchased in January 2007 by Louisiana State Printing based in Eunice, Louisiana, USA

Both products were integrated through the QuadTech ICON platform.

Following the installation Louisiana State Printing has seen a boost in efficiency, productivity and a reduction in waste and is looking to build upon its improvements.

The company specialises in the web offset printing of newspapers and installed QuadTech products on its 14-unit DGM 430 press, a recent addition, which has been configured as six mono units and two four-high towers.

Blake Messner, general manager, Louisiana State Printing commented, "We printed our first colour newspaper issue on February 5 and so far, we are very pleased with the results".

"We are seeing faster startups and reduced make ready times".

"Its reliability is second to none".

With the newspaper industry currently in a state of transition, the emphasis today resides on technological advances to give the edge over competitors and gain advertisers.

Competition in the newspaper printing market has never been greater, with demands for shorter runs and better quality images, meaning less room for error with paper spoilage and waste that cause material costs to spiral.

Messner noted, "The market is driving us towards better colour consistency and keeping our waste to a minimum".

"We have had positive results already and are certain that we can cut our waste by up to 50 percent over the next few months".

"We initially spoke with other printing companies, and they recommended QuadTech".

"For our money, there isn't a better package on the market".

"Our press minders have found it is easy to operate, and the entire system has saved us on manual operations".

"We would definitely use QuadTech again".

Blake continued, "The fact that minimal maintenance is needed for the MultiCam camera lens due to the OptiGuard, means we can leave the Register Guidance System to virtually run itself".

Louisiana State Printing is a sister company of The Louisiana State Newspapers and currently has 15 employees at its facility.

The largest two daily newspapers it prints are The Crowley Post Signal and The Abbeville Meridianal; it also prints 28 other publications.

The MultiCam camera can be combined with the QuadTech Ribbon Control System and the QuadTech Register Guidance System.

The camera's unrivalled performance lies in its ability to detect blemishes on the web up to 30 times per second.

The camera's strobe light source is produced by LEDs, which have a life expectancy of ten years plus.

This makes the camera virtually maintenance free during its life span.

The Register Guidance System is a fully automated colour-to-colour register system that can set up parameters to handle 1,000 jobs.

The system relies on the most specific up-to-date technology for the task-in-hand rather than off the shelf hardware.

The products are used in conjunction with the ICON platform, which is designed to centralise all QuadTech equipment in one user-friendly control station.

From this location the press minder can use the intuitive interface to eradicate errors, thereby reducing setup times and waste material, while increasing turnaround times and productivity.

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