Frank Passarelli

Lightweight gravure printing sleeves are trying to make headway in a market of printers leery of abandoning large inventories of traditional gravure cylinder bases. WHEN IT COMES to what real potential lightweight printing sleeves have in the gravure process, Randy Ferguson, director of sales at CNW Inc., sums up the general industry feeling in one sentence. "Sleeves will be an amazing thing for gravure, after a few minor speed bumps are smoothed out," he said. Save for a few printshops that have successfully transitioned to sleeves from cylinder bases in their gravure operations, most North American printers today are apprehensive about the technology and

Wide-web press manufacturers are adding features to make these big guys more nimble and easier to operate. By Tom Polischuk, Editor WIDE-WEB PRESSES offer many scale advantages for package printers that can provide great returns for their businesses. The downside, however, is that this scale also translates to higher costs for downtime, waste, and job changeovers. Press manufacturers know well the issues faced by their customers. In addition to print quality and material usage, Jim Coddington, vice president for BHS Printing Machinery, sites productivity for short and long runs, and flexibility of the process as important issues for operators of wide-web presses. Features incorporated

Gravure industry insiders tackle key issues for optimum ink transfer and reveal equipment developments aiding the cause. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor Blade basics Though gravure printing's consistency and dependability as a printing process are well-publicized, press operators should keep a close eye on doctor blade configuration. Max Daetwyler Product Sales Manager Marty Cansler affirms, "What is often crucial for consistent print quality is the ability of the doctor blade to provide clean and even ink application during the entire print run." As he elaborates, maintaining the blade contact area is integral to controlling such print defects as hazing and color variation. Contact area