Exploring Middle Ground

Brace Cooper, VP/Sales and Marketing, Mark Andy, Chesterfield, MO

Probably the most compelling argument for a mid-web press is the ability to have quick turnaround on jobs. Mid-web presses tend to have quicker makeready than wide-web presses, and fast enough speeds to be competitive when quick deliveries are required on any run length. Mid-web presses also have favorable economics when it comes to waste, plates, ink and initial capital investment.

Most mid-web presses are equipped with quick makeready features that make it possible to supply quick delivery jobs. Mid-web presses constitute a smaller capital and operating expense while at the same time making it possible to deliver many JIT requirements which can allow for the reduction of finished goods inventory.

Tom Jacques, Marketing Strategist, PCMC, Green Bay, WI

The most compelling argument for a mid-web press is quick change-over. The mid-web press facilitates this by making change-overs with specially designed cylinders or sleeves, which are both easy to handle. In addition, mid-web presses are designed for quick change-over, while wide-web designs are just now being optimized to reduce their longer change-over times.

However, a mid-web press is more affordable for short runs by 33 percent to 50 percent vs. wide-web presses. This frees up the wide-web presses for longer runs, for which they are designed. Printers need, above all, to be profitable with short-run work. This flexibility is essential for survival in today's highly competitive flexible packaging market. Many printers buy a mid-web press to take 'nuisance' (i.e., short run) work off of their wide-web presses. The vast majority of mid-web CI presses sold for flexible packaging printing are from 29 inches to 37˝ wide.

Mitch Dudek, Director of Sales, Propheteer International, Palatine, IL

Reduced lot sizes and shorter lead times seem to be the primary cause for wide-web packaging printers to look at mid-web width presses. Because most wide-web presses are central-impression style and most mid-web presses are in-line, there are going to be some start-up concerns. During the initial two to four months, it is imperative that the supplier and customer share a mutual desire to achieve a successful transition. The economies realized through reduced set-up times and less expensive tooling should justify the converter's decision to make the move.