The Columbus Dispatch, who converted their newspaper production to a compact format in January 2013, has again invested to improve quality and efficiency. mRC-3D plays an important role in this process!

Mega order for Q.I. Press Controls

Ronald Reedijk, managing director of Q.I. Press Controls North America Ltd., in North Kingstown, USA, reports that the company received a large order from The Columbus Dispatch for the delivery, implementation and putting into operation 124 mRC-3D register cameras on The Dispatch’s TKS newspaper presses. This order is part of a large quality and efficiency improvement program in the printing process of The Columbus Dispatch. Reedijk is enthusiastic: ‘As Q.I. Press Controls we are very proud of this level of trust in our quality automation systems, as shown by this great and very important order. Our systems have proven to play a decisive role in newspaper printing processes around the world, and improve the quality and efficiency of newspaper products and printers. Time and time again, our references are confirming that Q.I. Press Controls’ quality automation systems upgrade their print facilities. And all that with a reduced operating factor, while achieving a higher product quality and efficiency.’ 

3V format

The order for 124 mRC-3D register cameras is part of an extensive project at The Columbus Dispatch. First, the four TKS newspaper presses were adapted to the compact format—aka 3V format.  A new jaw folder was added to the drive-side of each press replacing the existing 3:2 drive-side rotary folder, which can now cut and fold three times the newspaper length from the total cylinder circumference, compared to twice on the old folder. Where one cylinder rotation used to result in 16 newspaper pages, it now gives 24 pages, with the new format 61% of its original size. Before, the TKS presses were 4/2 (four pages wide and 2 pages per place cylinder circumference). Now, the presses are 4/3 (four pages wide and 3 pages per place cylinder circumference). The operator-side of the press retains the 3:2 rotary folder. The new format is 14.7 inches high and 10.5 inches wide compared to the previous size of 22 inches high and 11.5 inches wide (maximum press width). The direction of the spine fold will remain the same parallel to the grain in the paper. For the project, the printing cylinders were converted to one-around (filling the unused plate gap) to allow the presses to produce either the 3:2 or 3V formats.   

Focus on quality and productivity 

The 3V format brought about a complete “rethinking” of what a newspaper could be which resulted in a redesigned Editorial and Advertising content model. This new design targeted improving the customer experience, putting a renewed emphasis on  the quality of the product. Additionally, the 3V format enabled The Columbus Dispatch to increase capacity and take on other products. As part of the continuing emphasis on improving product quality, timeliness, and meeting the needs of commercial accounts, The Columbus Dispatch production management team needed to find a solution to equip their existing presses with additional technology to further boost the efficiency and quality of their presses, achieve shorter set-up times, reduce waste, and faster colour register and cutoff  capability from each TKS line. This was the dilemma they put before Q.I. Press Controls. And they had the answer.

A full mRC-3D package

Q.I. Press Controls advised a closed-loop system to control colour register, unit-to-unit register, ribbon register and cut-off register. Q.I. Press Controls had no problems showing convincing references of comparable automation packages they had implemented. The proposed project will encompass 124 mRC-3D register cameras with AIMS (automated ink mist shield). With regard to technical execution and lead time, Q.I. Press Controls was able to fulfill The Columbus Dispatchs requirements, implementing this large project while the production of newspapers would continue as usual.

Important link

This order was landed with the help of Print2Finish, agent for Q.I. Press Controls’ in North America, with Wayne Anderson as project leader and business development executive. In Q.I. Press Controls’ worldwide network, this company formed an important link in landing the order. Print2Finish will also be a key player during the implementation and service phases.