Oosterhout – Following in the wake of Engineering Automation Electronics (EAE), Q.I. Press Controls (QIPC) is now to enter into a partnership with The Buffalo News Inc. The US-based printing concern, which already works with EAE’s control systems, has decided to invest in the IDS-3D system for colour register control from QIPC. It’s likely that company will take advantage of the possibilities for expansion that the IDS-3D system offers in the future.

Outdated register control

The Buffalo News is located on the shores of Lake Erie in Buffalo, New York. The company produces two morning editions daily and 3 Sunday editions along with The Hamburg Sun and 6 weekly Penny Savers. In addition, The News contract prints for several publishers including the The New York Times, Batavia Daily News and several other weekly regional publications.  The company is owned by Berkshire Hathaway whose Chairman is Warren Buffet. “The Buffalo News informed me that their register control system had become outdated,” explains agent Larry Macko of Print2Finish, recalling the moment when he and the company set out in search of a replacement system. “It was then I introduced them to QIPC.” Bryan Carr, production vice-president at The Buffalo News had this to say: “We’re currently going through the process of reinvesting in our printing press systems which were installed as far back as 2004. Intensive use and OEM obsolescence decisions have rendered the systems outdated, so a change is essential.”

Expansion and trouble-free integration

Following a thorough analysis of the possibilities offered by QIPC, The Buffalo News decided to place an order with the Dutch specialist in optical measurement and control systems for the printing industry. “Not least because we are already using the operating system from EAE, which is part of QIPC,” explains Bryan Carr. “We’ve enjoyed an extensive and long-standing partnership with EAE for some time, so integration ease is key to success.” What’s more, the US-based printer stressed a need to be able to incorporate closed-loop colour control, automatic Fan-out control and IQM (Intelligent Quality Management, QIPC’s quality management system) into their printing operations. “Replacing the current register system will bring about many other benefits,” enthuses Larry Macko. “In addition, expansion also means the possibility to include many other functions which will provide added value in the future.”

‘Most important technology partner for the future’

A total of 13 IDS-3D cameras will be installed at The Buffalo News. “We are counting on excellent print registration quality,” Bryan Carr says about the IDS-3D system. “What’s more, we anticipate reductions in the overall amount of printing waste we produce. QIPC’s system allows us to do this without passing on the costs to the user.” In addition to the system itself, Bryan Carr has a great deal of faith in the collaboration with QIPC. “We believe QIPC delivers a technologically advanced product, but above all we believe that Menno Jansen and his QIPC team are going to be our most important technology partner in the future.”