University of Alabama Birmingham Transforms Workflow With UV Press
Operators Mark Mays (left) and Scott Sandford stand atop University of Alabama Birmingham Printing and Mailing Services’ new five-color, 25x38” RMGT 970 offset press, which includes a coater and LED-UV curing system.
Graphco, the exclusive distributor for RMGT’s 970, 920, and 790 offset presses across the Midwest and Southeast, has installed a 5-color RMGT 970 press with LED-UV curing technology at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Printing & Mailing Services. (Read IPI's article on this installation here.)
Operating out of a 19,000-sq.-ft. facility in Birmingham, Alabama, UAB Printing & Mailing delivers a wide range of services—including admissions packets, magazines, newsletters, postcards, flyers, and brochures—to faculty, students, departments, and campus organizations.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” says Director Paula Blackwell. “We strive to keep all our work in-house.”
In a market increasingly dominated by digital printing, UAB’s continued commitment to offset printing is notable. “We run offset all day, every day, Monday through Friday,” Blackwell explains. “We have a digital department but offset has never slowed down here. It still accounts for half our production.” With their 30-year-old legacy press nearing the end of its life, UAB selected the RMGT 970 for its modern capabilities and long-term cost efficiency—ensuring the department’s offset excellence continues for years to come.
Operator Mark Mays checks a sheet printed on the new RMGT press.
A standout feature of the new press is RMGT’s LED curing system, which dries sheets instantly in a single pass. This leap in technology means jobs can proceed immediately to finishing operations such as cutting and folding, dramatically accelerating production cycles. “LED curing has been a game-changer for our workflow,” says Production Supervisor Greg Curtis. “Before, we sometimes had to let jobs sit overnight to dry. Now, we print a job in the morning, and it’s folded, stitched, and in the mailroom that afternoon.”
LED curing also eliminates spray powder and cuts energy usage, resulting in a cleaner, more sustainable pressroom. The RMGT 970’s ink efficiency adds to its environmental and economic advantages. “We’re seeing a lot less waste,” Curtis notes. “In the past, dried-out ink cost us every morning. Now, ink only cures under the LED lamp, so nothing goes to waste. Every drop we buy gets used.”
The press has also expanded UAB’s in-house finishing capabilities. “Soft touch coatings are in high demand here, and we used to outsource those jobs,” says Blackwell. “Now we can handle them internally.” With support for both aqueous and LED-curable varnishes, the RMGT 970’s inline coater delivers high-impact finishes without the delays and inefficiencies of offline equipment.
Using the well-established Insta.Color makeready technology, the RMGT 970 is refreshingly easy to operate. “We expected a learning curve,” Curtis admits, “but our press operators caught on fast. It’s just so much faster and more intuitive.” Equipped with touchscreen controls and automated assist features for makeready, printing, and maintenance, the press has quickly earned favor. “Our operator loves the new console,” Blackwell adds. “It’s got more bells and whistles, but it’s even easier to use than our old machine.”
Chris Manley, President of Graphco, expressed his pride in the partnership. “We’re honored that UAB chose Graphco for this major investment,” says Manley. “Their team truly understands the importance of reliability, efficiency, and quality in offset printing, and the RMGT 970 delivers all of that—and more. We’re proud to support UAB Printing & Mailing as they continue serving their campus community with excellence.”
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with In-plant Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of In-plant Impressions.
