HUDSON, NH -- Presstek, Inc. , a leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing solutions, has installed its first Presstek 52DI-UV digital offset press at LSD G.Neumann GmbH in Hamburg, Germany. LSD, which counts Procter & Gamble among its customers, specializes in high-end screen printing packaging designs for the food, beauty and other consumer industries.

"Our clients typically require printing on more than just paper," explains Guenther Neumann, Managing Director of LSD. "They often need plastic, films and foils. Now that we have installed the Presstek 52DI-UV press, we are able to more efficiently service this demand. The 52DI-UV press uses UV waterless offset inks, which allows us to produce high-quality color work on a much wider variety of materials. For us, the Presstek DI-UV press combines the best of offset, digital and UV printing. Plus, we can now efficiently produce small volumes without an expensive prepress workflow, as is the case with screen printing."

The new Presstek 52DI-UV digital offset press significantly expands the range of applications that can be produced making it easier for service providers to differentiate their businesses, whether it is general commercial work, small format packaging, tags and labels, or point-of-purchase materials. UV waterless inks dry instantly, which speeds the delivery of the printed product, increases throughput volumes and gives the DI-UV press owner the ability to respond quickly to customer requests. In addition, superior quality is achieved on uncoated stock and non-porous substrates such as plastics, foils and magnetic media, which are a challenge for other offset printing methods.

Kathy McHugh, Presstek's Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, comments: "The UV printing capabilities on the highly automated Presstek 52DI press is a potent combination that elevates both quality and ease of operation to new levels. It allows print service providers to make use of all of the benefits of Presstek DI digital offset printing -- speed, quality, low-cost-per page and ease-of-use -- while broadening their market reach with a wider range of capabilities."

Savvy businesses, like LSD, are looking to add Presstek DI-UV printing to their offerings because of the following benefits:

--  Faster throughput - Presstek DI-UV press inks dry instantly, which
    allows for immediate work-and-turn and delivery to post-press operations,
    such as folding and stitching. The result: faster turnaround time,
    especially when printing on plastic and other non-porous substrates.
--  Superior print quality - 100 percent of the UV ink is applied to the
    surface of the substrate and stays there after curing. Coupled with
    waterless printing, this means higher ink densities can be achieved as
    compared to conventional offset inks. Dot gain is minimal, resulting in
    superior printing on uncoated stock and on a full range of plastics and
    specialty substrates, including lenticular.
--  Durability - Lightfast inks provide increased durability when printing
    on foils, vinyls, films and plastics, offering superior scratch, rub and
    chemical resistance.
--  Reduced labor and waste - UV inks maintain consistency during the
    press run, which reduces labor and results in less run waste. Waste
    minimization becomes a very important cost savings benefit, especially when
    printing on an expensive specialty stock for specific UV applications.
--  Environmentally friendly - Presstek DI-UV waterless inks are
    environmentally friendly, because the inks do not contain volatile organic
    compounds (VOCs). Plus, Presstek DI-UV's waterless printing and on-press
    chemistry-free platemaking eliminates the need for water and dramatically
    reduces chemistry usage in the printing process.

Presstek DI-UV Portfolio

The Presstek DI-UV digital offset press is available in two format sizes: 52DI-UV, a 52cm landscape format press with a maximum sheet size of 20.47" x 14.17" (520 x 375 mm) and the Presstek 34DI-UV press, a 34cm portrait format press with a maximum sheet size of 13.39" x 18.11" (340 x 460 mm). The UV printing option is also available as a field upgrade for customers who already have Presstek 52DI or 34DI digital offset presses.