NEW ORLEANS — Despite the amazing advancements in newspaper technology, one problem that continues to be somewhat of a challenge is delivering a neat newspaper to customers.

Sunday has always been one of the worst days to keep the paper under control. Containing the large amount of inserts in the Sunday edition has been a topic of discussion among newspapers for years, with wrapping of the package being one of the most popular suggestions.

Mid America began distribution of the new Tab 
Vertiser machine, which applies a removable 
sticker around the vertical, open end of a newspaper, 
helping the paper stay closed during 
distribution and delivery.
Photos by Chere’ Martin

Mid America Graphics, however, believes the problem can be solved with a simple sticker. The company announced at Nexpo that is will be the distributor for a new product called the Tab Vertiser, a system designed to help newspapers keep products with a large amount of inserts neatly closed.

“One of the big problems [newspapers have is] the big Sunday packages and inserts in general, and nobody is ready to tackle that at any kind of speeds that will allow them to have a solution,” said David George, vice president of Mid America. “What we’re after here is a solution that can work up to that.”

The Tab Vertiser wraps a removable sticker with a low-tack adhesive around the vertical, open end of a newspaper, helping to prevent spillage of inserts or pilfering of items from single copies. According to Mid America, newspapers can, in some cases, use the product as an alternative to tying and rolling, and the sticker will help keep the newspaper intact even when tossed from the hand of a carrier to the front door of a subscriber.

Copies are taken from the inserter across a conveyor approximately six feet long. In the middle of the conveyor is the sticker applicator similar to applicators that apply front-page stickers.

After the sticker is applied to the front, a device lifts the edge of the newspaper and wraps the sticker around the newspaper, firmly applying it to the other side of the newspaper and sealing it shut.

The system, which can be used on-line or offline, runs at approximately 12,000 copies per hour. Tabbed pre-stuffs can be rerun through vacuum hoppers in inserting or collating machines in most cases.

Newspapers can also have the stickers printed with advertising, coupons or other promotional items as an extra source of revenue.

At the Nexpo show, George was running copies of Sunday newspapers through the Tab Vertiser to demonstrate its ability. George also showed how neatly it was able to hold together copies of the Nexpo program closed as a demonstration of how well the system will work on magazines.