Mark Vruno

How should customer okays differ for webs?
July 5, 2007

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Question: I have some offset customers whose print volumes have gone way up, bumping them from sheetfed to web presses. But they’re not familiar with the web press okay process. What’s the best way to explain the difference?

Answer: Clients who’ve not previously experienced a press okay on a web will be more comfortable with the process if they understand how web and sheetfed okays differ, and what they can expect. Explain that makeready procedures are noticeably different.

Viva the difference
Contrast the two by explaining that a typical sheetfed makeready would run something like this: 1) Run reusable waste; 2) Run a few good sheets; 3) Stop; 4) Evaluate; 5) Adjust and repeat as needed.

With webs, the makeready sequence is: 1) Run slowly; 2) Run faster; 3) Continue to run and make adjustments on the fly.

They also need to understand that a heatset web press is an arrangement of web tensioning and alignment devices, printing units and dryers, and it often includes folders, perforators, gluing systems and trimmers. The press operator manages this complex process in a dual role, to create a product that is technically correct, after drawing on his experience and creativity to visually fine-tune the product.

Paper (is) Money
The typical web makeready generates an average of 10 to 12 times more paper waste than a sheetfed makeready. Because paper is costly, the web press check demands organization, good communication and a sense of urgency.

Can Be Complicated
Elements such as design, layout and paper (surface texture, absorption and holdout) present complicating factors. Reassure your customers that you’ll work through them to meet or exceed their expectations.

Posted by Mark Vruno on July 5, 2007 | Comments (0)