Ten years since the first Cortina users group was held, waterless newspaper printing remains an asset underappreciated by advertising agencies.
That was the conclusion of Matthias Tietz, managing director of Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei, following a survey of print’s agency prospects in the competitive media arena.
Most of those interviewed were surprised by the quality and special sensory qualities of magazines and supplements which had been printed coldset waterless coldset as well as those partially coated inline.
And they see opportunities to use these more in advertising.
“Nevertheless, it also became clear that the potential of waterless web offset printing in the agency scene is still considerably less well known than the classic sheetfed and web offset printing processes, or even digital printing,” says Tietz.
Düsseldorf-based RBD’s finding were presented at the tenth workshop for users of KBA’s waterless Cortina presses, held in Würzburg last week (November 12-13).
KBA Cortina project manager Peter Benz presented a varied agenda for a group open to new ideas and paths. Chief executive and president Claus Bolza-Schünemann welcomed 75 participants to dinner at the landmark Marienberg fortress, and the following day’s programme opened with an overview of developments in print and the resulting realignment of the KBA Group from marketing director Klaus Schmid, who concluded, “printed newspapers will still be around in 2030.
“However, they will be different to today’s newspapers in terms of contents and look. We all have to contribute to promoting the strengths of print in the media arena. Simply reducing costs leads to a downward spiral. Surprising contents, smart commentaries and an attractive appearance are in demand. Good editors and cutting-edge technology are thus essential.”
He said Cortina users had taken the lead with their creative ideas.
Other speakers included Wolfgang Rauh from the Graphic Technology Research Association (Fogra) on waterless ink specification, Patrick Zürcher, managing director of former Cortina pioneer Freiburger Druck on quality management, and Valentin Kneile of Rheinpfalz Verlag und Druckerei with a users view of consumables.
Pictured: Delegates pose in front of the Marienberg fortress
On our homepage: RBD managing director Matthias Tietz