The Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal is upgrading its Goss Metroliner press with digital inkers from Printing Press Services International.

PPSI will retrofit 36 couples of the News-Journal’s press with digital inkers. The newspaper currently has five test inkers in place. PPSI will begin to install the remainder in August.

The News-Journal was the first site to test PPSI’s new Colortron control system, which can make density changes as subtle as 0.01 optical density units.

Daytona Beach News-Journal Machinist Terry Grubbs said the newspaper has experienced less ink spillage with its new inking system.
Photo: PPSI

The newspaper began its evaluation of the Colortron system last December. The system combines hardware and software to manage density changes.

The upgrade of the inkers is being done in concert with new press control consoles and software supplied by Rockwell Automation.

PPSI Director Dave McManamon said that the new Colortron system will also give the News-Journal wider ink density and ink coverage bands.

News-Journal Machinist Terry Grubbs said the PPSI ink rail system replaces a Goss ink rail and main ink drum system. Grubbs said he has seen drastic improvements in ink control.

“We’ve had the test ink rails in since the first part of December and we haven’t cleaned a pan in the press since we put them in,” said Grubbs.

The News-Journal is upgrading its inkers as a precursor to its switch to computer-to-plate, slated to occur early next year, according to Bob Truilo, business manager.

The newspaper is still evaluating the different types of systems and plates that are available and determining the financial feasibility of the various types of plates.

“We are hoping to narrow it down after Nexpo, do some site visits and do cost analysis,” said Truilo. “We are budgeted to buy one machine in the first quarter of 2004.”

The timeframe may change depending on the type of system purchased and how it integrates with the News-Journal’s other production systems.

Grubbs said that once the Colortron system is fully rolled out, the inkers will come with new electronic components boasting membrane-type keypads.

Until then, “We are running the inking units manually until the installation of the other inkers start in August,” he said.

The newspaper hopes to conclude the entire installation in late September.