Austrian newspaper printing house Herold Druck und Verlag AG is to enhance its quality control systems by installing QuadTech’s Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam on two of its manroland presses at its Vienna production plant. The technology, expected to be operational by October thaccuis year, will be installed on two towers of a 1800mm-wide Colorman XXL and three towers of a 1200mm-wide Colorman 4-2 press.

"We're very excited to begin a successful relationship with Herold Druck," says Vince Balistrieri, QuadTech General Manager for Commercial and Newspaper markets. "Their drive to continually improve quality and speed—while improving operational efficiencies—fits perfectly with what can be accomplished using our AccuCam technology. We have no doubt that they are leading the way in moving the industry forward."

The AccuCam camera combines color control and web inspection capability, all from the same sensor. Its proprietary spectral sensor for L*a*b* image-based color control, eliminates the need for colorbars or graybars. A closed-loop system, AccuCam analyzes the entire image and automatically obtains target aim point values from a high-resolution prepress file to maintain accurate color, by automatically adjusting ink keys. The system also automatically controls and optimizes the ink ratchet for high inking performance, creating better color, reduced waste and minimized operator intervention. All surfaces are inspected and common print faults such as scumming, blanket smashes, incorrect plates and color variations, are detected.

The Color Control System with AccuCam will be linked to the presses through ICON™, a centralized platform that streamlines the operation of the controls, as well as a Data Central® Performance Reporting Module. The latter is a storage system that monitors, verifies and documents numerous quality and productivity parameters. This allows easy analysis of real-time and historic press performance, minimizing the chance of rebates and reruns. Inconsistencies are thus spotted, enabling corrective action before defects become a costly problem.

Herold Druck’s decision to install the AccuCam followed a recommendation by another Austrian newspaper publisher, Vorarlberger Medienhaus. They expressed delight at the expertise of QuadTech personnel, ensuring a smooth integration of the Register Guidance System with MultiCam® into a web-offset press at Schwarzach.

Independently owned since it was founded in 1893, Herold Druck prints daily and weekly newspapers, newspaper inserts and semi-commercial media for the Austrian market, using both heatset and coldset litho methods. Leading newspaper titles printed by the company include Wiener Zeitung, Heute and Die Presse.

The Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam was launched following successful trials at Newsprinters’ Knowsley plant. The system has also been installed at Sankei Shimbun (Osaka, Japan), which is now capable of meeting stringent NSAC color standards as a result.