28th February, 2005 – IMPRIM’ 33, based in Gradignan, southwest of Bordeaux, France, plans to expand its web offset printing plant by installing the first Goss M-600 A Omnicon technology press system. The new web press will play a central role in creating wider possibilities for this progressive French printer. “We strive to continuously perfect our high-quality jobs, which can only be achieved profitably if waste and make-ready times are minimized. We therefore needed web press equipment offering flexibility, with automation to suit our specific needs and the skills of our staff, without compromising on quality,” explains Patrick Rousseil, President and Managing Director of IMPRIM’ 33. “In order to ensure that we meet increasingly tight delivery times for small to medium-size run jobs we must steadily streamline our processing cycles. It is critical for us to be able to reduce make-ready times, remove any other source of downtime as well as obtain a product as finished as possible at the delivery end of the web press.” The Goss M-600 multidrive A web press fits this specification perfectly. The first model of this type to be built by Goss International, it will complement IMPRIM’ 33’s web equipment, which is currently comprised of two presses: an 8-page half-web and 16-page WEB 16. This will enable the company to enhance the flexibility of its production scheduling and to considerably increase the volume of its high-quality commercial and publishing jobs. Consisting of one imprinting unit for ‘on-the-fly’ plate change or for an additional color, plus four standard printing units, the new Goss M-600 A press will run at 45,000 copies per hour. The press will also be equipped with the Goss Autoplate automatic plate changing system, a dryer with integrated afterburner and Goss Omnicon technology control system. A perforating unit, a PFF folder module for outputting four-page or eight-page products such as inserts and covers and a fold gluing system will increase the product possibilities offered by the press. The only commercial web offset printing plant in the Bordeaux area, IMPRIM’ 33’s staff of 47 works three shifts in order to supply around 250 regular customers concentrated within the southwestern region of France. Although run-lengths are predominantly between 150,000 and 300,000 copies, the printer also produces small run, high pagination publications, as well as run lengths that occasionally can exceed five million copies. Customers including advertising agencies, magazine publishers, industries and public administrations all have two essential requirements - high quality and a strict adherence to tight delivery deadlines. Patrick Rousseil concludes, “Ultimately, we wish to increase both our productivity and quality. This is what has determined our selection of the Goss press over its competitors. Goss International with its M-600 A press system provides us with superior press performance at the best value. The press is also easier to operate and meets our space requirements better than any other manufacturer. Finally, as a middle-sized company located in the provinces, we attach great value to swift and direct contact with our suppliers, on the technical as well as the commercial level. Goss International’s Montataire plant has already proven that it can satisfy these needs.” Installation of the new Goss M-600 A press system is scheduled to be complete by the end of May 2005.