Ripon Printers, a leading printer of catalogs, publications, manuals and soft-cover educational products, announces the purchase of a manroland ROTOMAN N heatset web press. The new press compliments Ripon Printers' existing ROTOMAN press and provides customers with added production capacity as well as important production redundancy. The acquisition also signals Ripon Printers' confidence in its employees and the future, as well as its commitment to providing more services to its customers.

The ROTOMAN, which manroland had placed on loan for several years to Printing Industries of America (PIA), is a single web, four-unit, 38-inch web width press, integrated with a MAN Roland 1:2:3 combination folder. Ripon Printers is adding a fifth printing unit.

The press system is also complemented by a set of auxiliary components from leading manufacturers of the printing industry. It was previously used by PIA for training, research and the production of the association's printed communications.

"The addition of a complementary press provides more flexibility as well as back-up capacity," says Andy Lyke, Ripon Printers' president. "We never missed a customer due date because of equipment failure, and the new ROTOMAN further ensures our ability to keep customer commitments."

"But that's not the only reason we are expanding capacity in the midst of a global recession," Lyke continues. "As a financially sound company, we are taking advantage of attractive equipment pricing and fully expect to emerge from the economic downturn as an even stronger player. Our conservative business practices positioned us to move forward while many other companies, both large and small, find themselves in precarious financial situations."

"Having said all that," Lyke concludes, "we would not have purchased the press without the strong confidence level we have in our employees. Their talent, self-initiative and resourcefulness encourage the ownership team to continue investing with an eye on the company's next 50 years of growth and profitability."

Ripon Printers expects the ROTOMAN press to be installed and fully functional by mid-December 2009. The press offers both folding and sheeting options, closed loop color and register control, "quick start" capabilities to reduce make-ready times and a number of features that promote environmental responsibility.