I write this from a press conference at Ipex at which Presstek has unveiled (and is showing elsewhere on the show floor) the new Presstek 75DI Direct Imaging press. The new press, designed for short-run offset color printing and to bridge the gap between offset and digital printing, is said to offer as little as six-minute job turnover. As Jeff Jacobson, Chairman, President, and CEO of Presstek, previous announcements had given the makeready time of the 75DI press at eight minutes, Since then, they have shaved an additional two minutes off job turnaround.
With an optimal run length of jobs in the 500 to 20,000 range, the new DI, like other Direct Imaging presses, images plates directly on press, and is headed toward Presstek’s goal of making the printing press “a computer peripheral.”
During the press conference, Jacobson outlined Presstek’s strategy for the future, including the company’s desire to manufacture plates open to all platemakers. They are also seeking to grow beyond Presstek’s core market of 1–9-employee print shops and expand to shops of all sizes, evidenced by “the 52DI aqueous coater bought by the second biggest printer in the world, Quad/Graphics.”
“DI was ahead of its time,” said Jacobson, “80% of all four-color jobs are less than 5,000 impressions.”
“I believe with the advent of inkjet, electrophotographic missed an opportunity.” Jacobson sees shops with three basic equipment rosters: inkjet for short-run, variable printers; offset for long-run printing, and a DI press for the “doughnut hole” between those two technologies’ run-length characteristics.
More information to come, including video.
Discussion
By Kevin Keane on May 20, 2010
As per usual, great commentary Richard, thank you. Presstek's view of the DI press as a computer peripheral reminds one of Bill Lamparter's observation of the original Karat 74 as being essentially a "dumb press," meaning it left little room for the operator's heroic interventions. Has anyone noticed the steady list of Canadian printers who have been buying the DI for the last year or so? They have the best donuts (Tim Horton's) and are thus maybe predisposed to fill the doughnut hole described by Mr. Jacobson betwixt inkjet and offset :) Stan Najmr of Presstek has fought the good fight to gain wider acceptance of the DI line, we are pleased to see his efforts getting traction.
By Lithoman on May 20, 2010
So what makes this new? Is this still the same old CTP units slapped onto a press idea?
By Erik Nikkanen on May 20, 2010
Unfortunately the window for DI is getting smaller not larger. Inkjet and the other digital presses from one end and offset with very short makereadies from the other end now seem to be overlapping their economical production volume windows. There will be no doughnut hole to fill. DI is not the future but fits in a small market niche where a printer does not yet want to have a separate plate making operation. The market will decide the outcome.
By Michael Burgard on May 22, 2010
I have to second Erik. This is typical market hype by an organization in a dying niche. The EP digital market is far from dead. Presses like the Igen and NexTPress more than consume the donut. The Anatec(sic) press from Heidelberg has almost as short of make-readies. In our location, there are 3 EP digital presses and one DI and the DI has no niche. Its not about length of make-ready, its about cost of operation and flexibility. The DI has neither.
By John Henry on May 24, 2010
Presstek is getting users killed on the cost to keep the DI running, with plate costs 4 times as vs. metal CTP and makeready about the same. Ink costs more, parts cost more, more service costs and so on. Yes the hole is getting smaller and smaller.
By Robert Johannes on May 26, 2010
A $600,000 computer peripheral? Doubt it.
If you want a 6 minute turnaround press, an anicolor Heidelberg SM72 is probably a better solution, with enough left over for a nice low end Mercedes... And plate savings that will get you to Hawaii and back a few times a year. And I have yet, in 4 years ever seen a set of plates last 20,000 impressions.
The DI's time has come and gone. I do like the high end look with the waterless ink and 300 line screening routines but 99% of customers could care less.
By Anuraag on May 26, 2010
Great insights from Robert, John and Michael about how they perceive DI's niche (or non-niche).
I saw the DI at the OnDemand expo and have never used one. It has never had a case in Asia where offset picks up the game right above 250 run length due to the low labor costs.
I agree EP has a long way ahead globally and even here in the US DI has its niche under serious attack from both sides.
By peter stewart on Sep 25, 2013
we have a 2007 3404 di - presstek- we have had the press for three years in november 2013, bought second hand, press is in very good condition and does quite a good job 95% of the time, however we have what appears to be gear marks on the back half of the sheet when printing 450 mm deep. the marks start about 5000 run into the job at the 370mm from the grip and are spaced about the same width apart as the roller strip would be on the plate, plates do not show any sign of wear but the gear marks are all over the blanket on the back half on every job but only visible on sheet on light weight stock, not visible on heavy stocks, no one has come up with a fix, all say leave it with me......... ryobi, presstek no answers no help, any one else out there as disappointed . regards pete