San Jose, Calif. – Disruptive technologies are synonymous with Silicon Valley. Managing color on an offset press is undergoing a similar disruptive process as demonstrated by recent investments by Pacific Printing. Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, Pacific Printing has completely automated their offset press color control with inline scanning of each press sheet with LithoFlash.

“We provide a wide range of services, including offset, digital, wide-format, mailing and fulfillment work,” states Andrew Goett, President of Pacific Printing. “Strategically, we needed to address some major obstacles to profitability that many printers face in our current economic climate. Back in April 2019, we took the first step by replacing two half-size Komori presses with just one RMGT 9 Series press. This 37-inch press prints an 8-up sheet but fits in the same footprint as the older 28-inch press it replaced. So, we immediately doubled capacity and capabilities without redesigning our floor layout.”

“Once Pacific Printing invested in their first new RMGT press, we helped them take their color control to the next level by introducing them to LithoFlash from Lithec USA,” states Kian Hemmen, Western Region Sales Manager, RMGT - Print & Finishing Solutions. “At RMGT we refer to it as InstaColor 2.0. Printers can leapfrog a technology wave by going with a true closed-loop inline reading of the color bar. Traditionally, you will find leading printers manually pulling press sheets and then manually scanning the color bar with a motorized spectro at the press console. With finally a true closed-loop in-line color control system, the color bar on each sheet moving through the press is read, and the data from every sixth sheet is passed to the press console and then on to the ink keys without press operator intervention.”

“We want our customers to know that we care about what their work looks like. We take pride in our quality and run to G7 Standards,” continues Goett. “Strategically, this was a critical upgrade and positions us well for future work. We find we can push more work through at higher speeds, with less waste, and keeping color consistency throughout the press run.”

“As a mailing house, time is a major factor in getting a print job done and into the postal system as fast as possible,” continues Goett. “Initially, with the cost of plates, chemistry, ink and make-ready, we would never have thought we could go from digital back to offset. However, technology has moved the tipping point back toward offset. Thanks to our LithoFlash inline color control system, we can set up the press in 5-7 minutes and literally run 300-400 sheets and then set up a new job. This has been a game changer.”

“The time and money economics of print manufacturing are moving short run jobs, traditionally run digital, back to offset,” states John Sweeney, VP Sales, Lithec USA. “In addition to the advantage of reducing monthly click charge costs, Pacific Printing is moving digital work back to high quality offset without sacrificing time due to the fast makeready enabled by the LithoFlash inline color control system. Additionally, in areas where labor pools are tight, the ability to bring in press operators who can quickly learn how to run today’s offset presses is essential to long-term profitability.”