February 6, 2004 -- THE Northern Whig, one of Northern Ireland’s best-established printing companies, has become the first commercial printer in Ireland to install a digital web-fed production printing system, with the purchase of twin Oce VarioStream 7200 continuous feed printers. The installation, at The Northern Whig’s Limestone Road, Belfast site, means that the company can offer printed products unique to the Irish printing market, such as variable data ballot papers, and also breaks new ground as a UK first site for Océ’s new Enhanced Print Quality roller technology, which gives sharper edges and higher print quality. Billy Morrow, chairman of The Northern Whig, said: “This has put us at the cutting edge of printing in Ireland. The Océ VarioStreams feature new technology that allows for unprecedented quality in black and white reproduction of text and photographs, and it gives us considerable flexibility in terms of print sizes, high speeds and better quality.” He added that The Northern Whig has already has already won several new contracts as a direct result of the Océ VarioStream installation, and has already achieved its first million feet of output from the system. The Océ VarioStream 7200s have been integrated into The Northern Whig’s mainstream print floor, and are undertaking work such as short run colour books, confidential reports, electoral ballot papers with variable data, and general commercial work. As such, the systems are taking work off of The Northern Whig’s litho presses, delivering better customer service, and improving the company’s cost effectiveness. Postpress equipment from Hunkeler and MBO, has also been supplied as part of the deal by Océ’s partner Oscar Friedheim. Peter McFadzean, managing director of The Northern Whig, said: “We’ve been an innovative and dynamic force in the printing industry for 180 years, and buying these Océ systems is a continuation of that. The Océ VarioStream is an industrial quality machine, ideal for the wide variety of applications we need to service our existing and potential customers. Indeed, several of our customers have been encouraging us to move in this direction.” Wesley Hanna, Regional Sales Manager for Océ Northern Ireland, said: “These are exciting times for Océ Northern Ireland. Digital is the fastest growing sector within the Irish printing industry, and Océ has the high speed printing solutions to deliver in this market place. “The Northern Whig is the first commercial printer in Ireland to offer the benefits of web digital technology as well as traditional litho for booklet and report work and other specialist applications.” This is a key advantage for The Northern Whig, says Mr McFadzean. “Some of our customers have told us that they are often confused as to whether they should be printing certain jobs in the traditional way or by digital methods. We are now able to advise them of the most cost-effective way to meet their deadline.”