A tour through the press department

 

Dylan takes Liza a tour through the press department. He shows her where the machines are and what they are used for. Liza will help in the press department during the following weeks.

 

This machine is a GTO. We have two of them. They are old but useful. Both can print two colours and you can install a numbering box. The A3 oversize plates for this machines are processed conventionally.

Kevin works permanently at those two GTOs and he produces small monochrome printworks, for example visiting-cards and flyers.

 

 

This machine is operated by Samuel. It is our biggest machine. The SM74 has 5 printing units. The maximum sheet size is 530 x 740 mm.

The plates are imaged by the computer-to-plate-imagesetter.

Here is the SM52. This is the place where I work. The machine with the 4 printing units can print in the size 370 x 520 mm.

It’s used for any kind of multi-colour job that doesn’t have a high print run.

 

 

This is our finishing department. The printers work closely together with the bookbinder, because mistakes can happen easily when they don’t cooperate.

Soon you will help in the bindery too. Now I just tell you the names of the machines. Luke can explain the use of each machine better than me.

 

 

This is the die-cutter, here is the gang-stitcher and here you can see the automatic three-knife trimmer as well as the cutting machine.

More about this topic

For experts: reflect on the text on page 26 and 27

1.The GTOs have two printing units. Why does it print only monochrome products?

2.Which machine can print the biggest sheet size?

3.Is it more economical to print a product with a high print run on the SM52 or on the SM74?

4.How many pages of this textbook fit on a printing sheet of the SM74?

5.Why is it necessary to cut a printing sheet at 4 sides when you work-and-tumble the sheet?

 

Different printing methods

 

Liza passes through the press-department. She learns to distinguish the different printing methods, how to deal with paper and she gets know the workflow in this department. Dylan gives Liza this work-sheet to control her success:

 

Link the main printing technologies with the matching text and methods

Main printing technologies   Letterpress   Gravure printing   Lithography   Screen printing

Characteristics of the printing form   The printing form I a screen with a stencil; images areas are in the screen permeable for the colour.   Image areas and non-image areas are at the same level.   Image areas are on a higher level than non-image areas.   Image areas are on a lower level than non-image areas.

The matching printing methods   -flexography   · Continuous stationery printing (partly) · Stone printing · Offset · Tin printing · Phototype   -continuous stationery printing(partly) -manuell techniques: copperplate, dry point engraving -gravure printing   · Screen printing