Oosterhout - Wenatchee World has decided to invest in a Q.I. Press Controls (QIPC) automation system for its newspaper printing press. The KBA Comet press in Wenatchee (Washington) is to be fitted with the IDS-3D system for register and closed-loop colour control. To quote Wenatchee World: “QIPC is the best solution for us.” 

Long sales cycle

Talks between the newspaper from Wenatchee - the apple capital of the world - and QIPC date back as far as 2004. At the time, the investment climate was not at its best, nevertheless the necessity for register control on the press remained. “This was one of the longest sales cycles ever”, says Ronald Reedijk, managing director of QIPC-EAE Americas, explaining why the order took so long to complete. 

It took until 2014 before talks were reopened. Up until that time QIPC’s Print2Finish agent, Juan Echavarria, had maintained close links with Wenatchee World and manufacturer KBA also kept its ear close to the ground. “The good contacts between KBA and QIPC were definitely a key factor in the eventual decision to opt for QIPC”, says general manager of Wenatchee World, Joe Pitt. “Despite there being lots of other similar products on the market, we decided that QIPC was the best solution for us. And anyway, QIPC is the closest match for our KBA Comet.”

Consistency in quality

The eight IDS-3D cameras on the KBA Comet with four towers have been installed with register control, colour control, dampening control and print fault detection. “This allows them to make savings in personnel and ink”, adds Ronald Reedijk. “What's more, Wenatchee World will now be able to print more consistently at much higher levels of quality.” In addition to the daily newspaper Wenatchee World, the plant also prints for commercial clients. “Quality is especially important for these clients. When compared to other printers, full automation means added value for these commercial clients.”

Joe Pitt not only has high expectations of the system, but also of the partnership with QIPC. “During the whole sales process, the talks we had with QIPC were extremely cordial. We expect the relationship to improve even more once the installation has taken place.” The said installation of the press at Wenatchee World is yet another feather in the cap for QIPC in the west of the USA.