January 6, 2003 -- With installation of a new Heidelberg web press nearing completion, Rochester Institute of Technology announces additional partners in the project. Nineteen industry suppliers will provide components and consumables valued at more than $1.3 million, extending RIT’s renown and quality as a top-ranked educator in print media. Heidelberg consigned the gapless Sunday 2000 press system for education and research within RIT’s School of Print Media. The six-unit press is being installed in the new Heidelberg Web Press Laboratory at the Rochester, N.Y., campus. That facility will be debuted during a grand opening celebration scheduled for April 25. "A state-of-the-art web printing system requires the integration of press technology, operator expertise and auxiliary components and consumables," explains Bill Garno, director of the Printing Applications Laboratory at RIT. "With these suppliers supporting the Sunday press technology, and the combined expertise of RIT and Heidelberg, we clearly have all three requirements met." Garno says RIT and the industry as a whole are very fortunate that these suppliers have stepped forward with contributions. "We thank them for their generosity and for the ongoing cooperation that will make the Heidelberg Web Press Laboratory a premier teaching and research facility," he adds. Hardware partners for the Sunday 2000 at RIT include Creo Inc., which will provide a Trendsetter VLF platesetter; Graphics Microsystems Inc. (GMI), which will install its ColorQuick closed-loop color control system; and Quad/Tech Inc. (QTI), which will supply its RGS Vector™ closed loop register system, RCS 4000 ribbon control system, and web guidance system 4000. AWS, a Thermal Care division, will provide a Uniflow 4000 Combi Unit fountain solution system/vibrator temperature controller and a LPA-1200 low pressure air cooler. Böttcher America Corp. will supply press rollers, while NELA Ternes Register Group will furnish a plate punch/bender. Lincoln Industrial Corp. will provide an ink pumping system. RIMA-System, which is represented by Heidelberg in the U.S., will donate stream conveyers and a compensatory stacker. The list of partners providing gapless blankets, ink, plates, chemistry solutions and other consumables for the press system includes Day International Inc., Flint Ink Corp., Fuji Hunt/Anchor, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Sun Chemical and Tribology. JC Fibers will donate the paper-waste handling system for the press system, and Jeco Plastic Products will contribute pallets. A color-viewing booth will be available, thanks to Just Normlicht Inc. The Sunday 2000 at RIT will feature a 24-page, 2-by-6 plate cylinder configuration.  Heidelberg will equip the press with its Contiweb CS splicer, Ecocool dryer, PCF-1 pinless folder and Omnicon controls. The Sunday 2000 model is especially designed for high-quality commercial and short run publication printing. "Installation of the Sunday 2000 reflects and strengthens our long-term partnership with Heidelberg, and we welcome these additional partners," according to Albert J. Simone, RIT president.  "Due in large part to our industry partners, RIT has thrived and forged ahead in new academic and research frontiers. We will continue to work together to provide the innovative education and research resources that are a cornerstone of the entire printing industry." The Sunday press will replace an M-1000B web press donated to RIT by Heidelberg predecessor, Harris Graphics, in 1986.  The new web press will join a long list of Heidelberg prepress, press and postpress technology at RIT, including a Topaz scanner, Speedmaster 74 and Quickmaster DI sheetfed presses, a Polar cutter and a Stahl folder.