Register System Benefits Australian Newspaper

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team Oct 8, 2007

With increased start-ups, reduced waste and greater productivity, APN Print Yandina in Australia is benefiting from a Quadtech Register Guidance System with Multicam and a Color Control System.

The Register Guidance System and Color Control System were part of a recommended package from MAN Roland but Yandina researched the products by asking users for feedback before making a decision.

According to Quadtech the technology has proved to be a welcome addition to the plant, where it is an integral part of an upgrade at APN Print Yandina, which has also installed MAN Roland Regioman and Uniset presses.

Greg Carson, general manager of APN Yandina, commented: "The Register Guidance System provides our press operators with greater overall control of the job in hand, allowing them to concentrate on other aspects of the printing process.

The Multicam camera has more than proved its worth and stays locked on to marks during tension upsets, such as start-ups and splices, automatically making adjustments at full press speeds." He explained: "The intention of investing in these purchases was to improve printing quality and streamline our printing process.

The Color Control System has reduced make-ready times.

Originally, all the fountains on the press would have been adjusted by hand but now the system automatically calculates and adjusts the fountains at the same time.

This is a much more efficient process." Over the last decade, Australia's newspaper industry has reflected the worldwide market requirements for high quality colour, said Quadtech.

Greater emphasis is being placed on newspapers to introduce full-colour glossy magazines.

Yandina opened last October following an amalgamation between two existing plants, with the aim to modernise and extend facilities and increase productivity and efficiency.

APN Yandina publishes 24 daily newspapers, such as The Sunshine Coast Daily, which is said to be Australia's fastest growing newspaper.

Other daily publications it prints at its facility that is claimed to be capable of printing 75,000 tabloid copies per hour and runs 24 hours-a-day, are The Gympie Times and Queensland Times.