SAN LUIS OBISPO - Degrava Systems has donated a full-color label digital press valued at nearly $20,000 to Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Department. The Degrava DP 8500 digital press is new technology. It is a narrow-width web role-to-role full-color label press intended for short-runs of 2,000 or less. It is a toner-based continuous printing system that prints on paper, synthetics and adhesive-backed substrates, according to Harvey Levenson, head of Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Department. "The Degrava DP8500 press adds to the range of digital presses that we teach, introducing a short-run alternative to full-color label printing," Levenson said. "The press represents the future in short- run color digital label and tag printing." The press is completely digital and requires no plates. It uses dry toner and prints at a rate of two inches per second on an 8 1/2" wide web. The compact press measures just six feet by three feet. The new Degrava technology will be taught in the Graphic Communication Department's digital imaging and packaging classes, and in seminars and workshops for industry conducted by the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly. "Cal Poly has a reputation for educating the future leaders of the printing industry," said Dennis Kallaher, president of Degrava Systems. We are delighted to partner with Cal Poly in making this technology available to the students who will shape the future of our industry." The Degrava DP8500 press was dedicated at a special ceremony during the university's recent International Printing Week.