An installation of QuadTech's image-based AccuCam technology on 52 press towers at the Chicago Tribune will be the world's - and the company's - largest, it claims.
Ten printing lines at the Freedom Center plant are being equipped with colour control and web inspection systems based on QuadTech's MultiCam technology.
Ten manroland Colorman and Goss Metrocolor presses deliver 2.85 million newspaper products a day. Titles include the 'Chicago Tribune', 'Wall Street Journal', 'New York Times' and 'Investor's Business Daily' as well as Chicago Sun-Times Media Publications and more than 20 regional and specialist business titles.
Vice president of operations Brian Karnick says the company is investing in the future of print: "The installation represents our commitment to delivering consistent quality and minimizing our cost structures, especially for our customers in the short-run market," he says.
AccuCam combines colour control and web inspection from the same sensor. The closed-loop system analyses the image and obtains target aim point values from a high-resolution prepress file to maintain accurate colour. The system also controls and optimizes the ink ratchet, creating better colour, reduced waste and minimised operator intervention. Surfaces are inspected and common print faults such as scumming, blanket smashes, incorrect plates and colour variations detected.
Early spotting of inconsistencies allows for corrective action before defects become a costly problem.
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