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An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including history and technologies of feeders, image transfer surfaces, and drives for printing presses.

The article provides information on feeder system which uses a combination of suction and vacuum including describing the functions of nozzles, vacuum, and suction devices.

The article focuses on the history of feeders, image transfer surfaces, and drives which are the three components of technology for sheetfed printing presses. It mentions the generic components of feeders, including suction, vacuum, air supply, and corrugation, needed for the efficient feeding of paper into printing presses. It also mentions that from 1798 the concept, application, and importance of transfer surfaces have been part of printing presses.

The article focuses on the potential impact of government oversight on Artificial Intelligence(AI) technology, drawing parallels between the printing press and e-mail as examples of government intervention and control. It discusses the need for regulation in AI to prevent negative consequences such as privacy issues and societal disruption.

The article offers information on the report "Production Inkjet Printing: Consideration, Deployment, and End Results," released by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA). It discusses the ownership and adoption of production inkjet printing presses, and experiences of printers in production inkjet deployment. Several charts including on print shipments in the U.S., on utilization, and on satisfaction are also presented.

The article offers news briefs in the U.S. in 2016. Topics discussed include the launch of the Heidelberg Primefire 106 inkjet press from photography company Fujifilm Holdings Corp. and Heidelberg, the update to the PROSE/XML specification of digital enterprise alliance Idealliance, and the recruitment of Donald Roseman as service provider Ingram Content Group Inc. vice president of retail.

The article focuses on the report titled "Worldwide Market for Print 2.0: Global Opportunities in Packaging (2011-2020)," from PRIMIR Market Research which examined the current state and outlook for the global print packaging market. Topics discussed include total value of the print packaging market in 2016, essential recommendations for print packagers, converters, brand owners and manufacturers, and rise in the sheetfed offset presses shipments in 2016.

The article discusses the efficiency of digital production process in printing of variable data with PDF/VT computer file format. Particular focus is given to the change in demands on variable data printing. The Hewlett-Packard T410 digital printing press from Hewlett-Packard Co. is cited for being fast and its high resolution. The drawbacks of specialized page description languages (PDLs) in digital printing process are highlighted.

The article offers information on how to make digital printing successful. It states the categories of digital printing which include production black-and-white and full color, consumer and Small Office Home Office computer output (SOHO), and wide format. It cites slow speeds, limited press width, and paper issues which prevent digital print's ability to be competitive with offset printing, but they were all overtaken with Kodak's Prosper 1000 and the 29" HP Indigo.

The article presents the products and services to be showcased at the 2016 drupa trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, including an industrial size and speed digital sheetfed press for the folding carton market from KBA-Sheetfed Solutions and Xerox, the Avalon N8-90 platesetter from Agfa Graphics and the CorruCAM tool from Troika.

The article discusses the tips on how to buy a digital press technology. It provides information on the factors needed to be considered before buying the said innovative technology including format, maximum image area, rated speed, colors, and coating options. In addition, it mentions the need to check the image quality of the product. Furthermore, the resolution of the digital presses is also detailed.

This article discusses a trend in which U.S. high technology companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Kodak, Xerox, and Punch Graphix are targeting the printing industry with commercial digital printing presses. These companies are reversing a trend in which few public companies are wooing commercial printers because these are old-technology, slow-growing, risk-resistant, and their share of the communications market is shrinking. Hewlett-Packard hosted an "Analyst and Media Graphic Arts Summit" conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. INSET: Printers' Adoption of Technology Has Been Painfully Slow.

This article focuses on the need for a higher degree of quality awareness among printers, through the use of software controls. As the design and construction of printing presses matures and possibly peaks, hardware will no longer be the differentiator, software will. All modern print presses are controlled by computer, with the press control system working very closely with the prepress system and tightly integrated with the business system for efficient job handling. The press control system should also support maintenance scheduling to avoid any abrupt halts in the production, and, this demands software that is user-friendly and well-conceived.

This article features three middleweight volume printers, the Canon CLC3220, Xerox Phaser EX7750, and the Konica Minolta Bizhub 350. The CLC3220 is an upgrade of the CLC3200. The few changes in the new version are found in the software, such as being able to use third-party software with the printer and its software. Furthermore, the Xerox Phaser EX7750 is purely a color printer, which means it does not have a scanner table and therefore cannot be used as a copier. It suits its target group well: graphic arts companies, advertising agencies, prepress companies, and printers. In addition, the Konica Minolta Bizhub C350 is user friendly. Measurements showed that in a run of 250 sheets, the C350 has an average deviation.

This article presents a review of heavyweight digital printers. The fundamental question underlying the ongoing review of printers is whether a digital press prints as well, or better, than a sheetfed printing press. It is also tested whether the digital printing presses really print at their specified speeds and if they can run without paper jams at these speeds. Some of the products being tested are the following: Kodak Nexpress 2100; Xerox iGen3, and; Kodak Versamark inkjet printer. INSET: Kodak Versamark.

The article discusses Adobe's launch of Acrobat 7.0 Professional for prepress processing. The prepress-related functions in Acrobat 7.0 are gathered into a single list of tools. From the menu "Tools>Print Production," the user can open individual tools, open a tool palette in the tool bar or drag it into the work area. Tools for trapping PDF files are still expensive, and Adobe is not willing to implement its own trapping technology in Acrobat. In addition to the RIP, the user needs the appropriate printer description file that supports trapping. To set up the InRIP trapping, the user can either simply use the standard parameters or users can define their own set of parameters via the "Create" function.

This article discusses the role of the job definition format (JDF) in print production systems. While any job including a JDF ticket starts with the management information system, they all must be processed in production systems, which run from prepress to press and postpress, and finally, to delivery. JDF-related developments initiated by various companies are outlined. INSET: A Dream and a Surprise.

The Delano was first shown at Drupa 2000 as a project of Agfa Corp. to develop a Web-based project-management system that would allow print buyers, prepress companies and printers to control time-critical or very complex printing jobs over the Internet. In 2003, Agfa installed Delano at four different printing companies. Three were members of Quebecor Group: a book printer in the U.S., a magazine and comic-book printer in Canada, and a magazine printer in Sweden. The fourth customer was Maldon, England-based Wyndeham Heron, a leading magazine printer in Great Britain.

CTP systems, presses and finishing equipment will soon be able talk to each other using Job Definition Format (JDF). The JDF standard defines a "Management Information System" (MIS) that is not quite the same as the usual meaning of MIS. Printnet Commercial is the first system developed specifically to fill this role. The development of Printnet can only be understood after a few specifics of the JDF specification have been explained. The flow of information via JDF has to be managed and controlled. Devices and systems have to be queried, and incoming information has to be passed along, stored and called up again if needed. INSETS: A JDF Developer's View;Printnet and PPI.

Outlines the result assessing the operation of midsize printers in the U.S. Evaluation on the utilization of page-layout software and computer support arrangements; Examination on the use of commercial printers; Assessment of the implementation of the ICC color management techonology.

Focuses on the transition of printing company Modis Digitaldruck Produktions & Service Gmbh in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, from sheet-fed presses to roll-fed press to meet its clients' turnaround requirements using the toner-based printing system of Delphax Systems. Technical limitations of the sheet-fed equipment; Components of the Delphax CR 1300; Advantages of the electron-beam technology.

Analyzes the performance of direct imaging (DI) press Adast Dominant 755CP. Reverse-side printing; Maximum print format; Plates and blanket cylinder of the DI press; Varnishing and drying.

Focuses on the potential growth of direct-imaging (DI) offset presses in the digital printing business. Start of the trend from the publicity given to Xerox's DocuColor 233 DI; Innovations in DI reinforced by Ryobi and Presstek.

Focuses on the conversion plans of regional press at Newstec, a biennial newspaper show in Brighton, Great Britain. Availability of SGML tag set in accessing an editorial system; Usability of SGML in supporting editorial tasks and tags; Launch of NewsDesk by CCI in Europe.

The article offers brief information on several products including the W10 Nanographic Printing Press from printing company Landa Corp., Trillium One press from Xeikon and the inkjet presses from copy company Xerox Corp.

The article discusses the meanings and definitions of various terms used in the digital printing industry. It cites PrintCom that made the word digitalography which means a collective term describing the several imaging processes used in digital printing in a press or device capable of supporting full or partial variable imaging applications. Meanwhile, it discusses the meanings of the terms mail merge, versioning, and individualization.

Several charts are presented showing the print-on-demand (POD) of digital printing press in the U.S. including the retail value of POD variable data market, retail value of printing means color, global graphic arts market forecast by segment.

This article discusses the proceedings of the December 2005 "Excellence in Workflow" conference and Ifra trade show in Leipzig, Germany, which focused on the worldwide digital printing industry. Growth markets for the newspaper computer-to-press (CtP) technologies include Asia, North America, Russia, and Great Britain. A table is presented that details the market share of printing press companies that include Agfa, Basys, ECRM, Fuji, Alfaquest, KPG, Escher-Grad, Screen, Krause, Creo, and Matsushita.

The article highlights the problems of American plate manufacturers. The article further discusses the problems which has come before them after computer to press (CTP) technology. In the area of CTP development, the question is not whether thermal plates or violet plates represent the future. The first step toward the future is the processless plate, which requires no chemical development at all. Although Presstek Inc., has offered the processless PearlDry plate since 1995, its highly complex manufacturing process has kept its price too high to be attractive. The plates that Presstek subsequently introduced are also very expensive. On top of that, they can cause technical difficulties on press. In contrast, Agfa, with its second-generation Azura plate, has a wet-offset offering that is only a bit more expensive than normal thermal plates. It has been enthusiastically adopted by commercial printers and it can he imaged on press.

In this article, the author foresees a major trend in the growth of hybrid printing, which is combining gravure and offset litho, offset litho and toner, and inkjet and more. These devices may be sheet-fed or web-fed and most apply toner-based technology, which creates a new page image with every impression. This distinguishes digital color printing from traditional offset printing where every impression must be the same. Although direct imaging offset presses are called digital presses, they do not have variable data printing capability since they use a static printing plate. Their advantage is making the plates on the press and thus reducing press make-ready.

The article evaluates the Panther Technology, an ultraviolet (UV) inkjet platform, and the Xeikon PX3000 UV inkjet label press from Xeikon.

The article lists installations in the printing industry in the U.S. in 2016 including HP Indigo Presses by Linemark Printing, Agfa Graphics Jeti Tauro UV inkjet printing system by Superior Graphics and HP T240 HD by Sheridan Group.

The article evaluates the Iridesse Production Press, a six-station color press from Xerox.

The article reports on installations of Océ VarioPrint i300 sheet-fed inkjet press at Thomas Printworks in Dallas, Texas and Océ ColorStream 3900 digital inkjet press at CFC Print Solutions in Grand Prairie.

The article offers brief information on Landa Corp.'s Landa S5 sheetfed printing press, Landa S7 sheetfed printing press and Landa W5 web printing press.

The article discusses the move of newspaper publishers who have decided to stop the use of flexo printing presses in their operations, wherein the publishers include McClathy Company in Fresno, California, Maine Media Today in Portland, Maine, and Manugraph Americas-DGM also in Portland, Maine.

Tweets from the microblogging web site Twitter, regarding the top packaging companies globally, the warning on printer scams, and the launch of Uvistar Hybrid 320 UV press from photography company Fujifilm Corp., are presented.

The article focuses on sheeters used in printing. It has become easier to sheet papers from rolls after more compact sheetfed printers were manufactured. More general commercial printers are using long perfectors. Off-line operation labor is saved by on-line sheeters. Pallets and storage of the final products after sheeting, which are stored before being sent to the press, is also saved. The press needs keep fluctuating, for which sophisticated electronic integration and a dancer accumulator are mandatory in case of an on-line unit.

The article reports on developments in the commercial print business of newspaper firms in the U.S. "The New York Times" is one of the newspaper firms that use their printing resources to offer commercial printing and production services to advertisers. The publication is printed in 21 locations across the U.S. but for its commercial print business, the company relies on facilities in the New York and West Coast area. According to senior vice president of advertising for the Times Jyll Holzman, that customers will no longer deal with outside vendors to print and deliver their inserts to the Times. The Arizona Republic and Herald -Dispatch are newspaper companies which also offer commercial printing.

The article presents the use of closed-loop systems to improve newspaper production. Newspaper publishers are thinking of closedloop systems, not only for color control and regulation, but also for plate production. Closed-loop systems in newspaper printing presses offer a series of advantages, such as reduced waste and fewer customer complaints. With these systems, the printers are provided with a quality protocol, the option of dispensing with proofing and a decrease in color consumption in production. Two measurement methods have proven themselves within a relatively short time: measurement and control with gray balance stripes and the direct measurement of printed images by spectral photometers cameras. Closed-loop quality control also signals the client that he is dealing with industrial production of newspaper manufacturing and that his work is newspaper oriented--and not even rotogravure oriented. Quality assurance must include al! areas of the process, including computer to plate. Thus the article concludes that closed loop is a part of a new type of industrial production for newspapers.

The article focuses on the recently held Ifra Expo 2004 in Amsterdam which offered fewer exhibits in the CTP sector. Alfa IPA Systems, ECRM Inc., Kodak Polychrome Graphics and Krause Biagosch, as well as companies with plate transport and control systems participated in the event. At Alfa Media Partner GmbH's booth, WA Systems showed the FasTrak CtP platesetter. FasTrak claims that around 80 machines worldwide are producing from it. Also ECRM showed its News CTP platesetter and Newsmatic exposer. Both were introduced at Ifra in Leipzig a year ago and both now expose with the 60mW-laser-diode. Furthermore, Kodak introduced the first violet-laser plates the KPG VioletNews. The polymer plate is one of the most sensitive violet plates available -- almost as sensitive as Agfa's violet silver-plate Lithostar Ultra LAP-V. Also, at its booths world market leader X-Rite showed the offset plate measuring device X-RiteDot. The English company Centurfax developed the device which X-Rite developed further.

This article discusses the time-saving benefits of job description format (JDF) in the printing process which arise from the fact that there is no need to rekey job information and real time feedback comes directly from the printing process. Since JDF provides a direct link to the CIP3 data for ink key presets, the pressman does not need to search for it. JDF is the only way to receive topical status data, and eliminates the need for a lot of daily reports. JDF developments among the press makers Heidelberg, KBA, MAN, Komori, Mitsubishi, Shinohara, Ryobi and others are outlined.

Some experts and industry analysts say direct imaging (DI) is a dead end and they are actively looking for the next big thing, be it xerographic, ink jet or some other new, exotic, unproved technology that will finally drive a stake through the heart of offset printing. Offset printing requires skilled operators for consistent color and efficient operation. Thus, the challenge is whether DI could qualify as a digital printing press. This is exactly what engineers of Dainippon Screen have attempted to do with their new on demand color printing press, the TruePress 344. Dainippon Screen has applied to color offset printing the imaging strengths of PlateRite imaging and the digital workflow strength of TrueFlow. It is a printing press aimed squarely at traditional printers and customers who had been too intimidated or lacked the skilled operators to run an offset operation.

In 1994, Colourscan was the largest prepress company in the world; its Singapore plant employed more than 600 people. But with technological changes now sweeping through the industry, it has reduced its size and has entered the printing end of the business. Today, it runs three large presses in Heidelberg, Germany and is still considered the largest prepress company, with 300 employees in Singapore and 150 in the Malaysian prepress branch.

Building on its experience in the newspaper market, Sansui recently introduced a system that enables a service organization to make it easy for customers to create personalized documents printed in short runs or on demand. The system, PublishNow, is a broader more general-purpose implementation of the SmartProperty and SmartCars technologies that Sansui first developed for real-estate and automotive advertisements. In PublishNow, Sansui has broadened the technology and made it more open, creating interesting opportunities for printing companies.

Reports that Easypress upgraded its Atomik Roundtrip XML conversion tool for Xpress, adding support for contextual styles, attributes, tables and special characters that will make the product more appropriate for STM and catalog applications. Provision for several wats to pour XML-tagged content into XPress; Features of the drag-and-drop approach; Provisions for tracking changes.