DI Press a Boon for Indiana In-plant

Due to a growing demand for four-color work, the University of Southern Indiana’s Publishing Services operation installed a Presstek 52DI digital offset press. The 11-employee in-plant, based in Evansville, Ind., had been outsourcing much of this work, which it couldn't handle with its existing two-color presses or its Xerox 700.

“I had exposure to DI technology at a commercial printer where I was previously employed,” says Terri Bischoff, assistant director of Publishing Services. “I understood the benefits the process could bring to our business. Prior to acquiring the Presstek DI, we were outsourcing 75 to 85 percent of our color work, and have now been able to bring almost all of that back in house, a tremendous cycle time and financial benefit for the university.”

The in-plant installed the press about a year ago. The Presstek 52DI is an automated 52 cm landscape digital offset press. It features support for 300 lpi and FM screening, the ability to go from a digital file to a printed sheet in 10 minutes, and a small environmental footprint. The press prints up to 10,000 sheets per hour and has an optional inline aqueous coater available.

“We had the money in reserve, skilled staff and adequate space," Bischoff continues. "We believed we could make this investment without breaking the bank and that now was the perfect time to make the switch. The press has exceeded our expectations, and our customers are thrilled. In addition, the university is pleased with the level of environmental sustainability the press brings to our shop.”

The in-plant finds it economical to move runs as short as 500 from its toner-based digital press to the Presstek 52DI. “It saves us time and money, and the quality is better,” Bischoff explains. “We really like the waterless printing technology and the types of inks the press uses, as well as the fact that it does not use metal plates.”

Like many in-plants, Publishing Services is space-constrained; Bischoff says that the press, with its small footprint as compared to other offset press options, fit perfectly into the shop.