Ballarat printing plant is a goldmine of promise

Ballarat Courier newspaper production facility installs a QuadTech Register Guidance System with Multiam on a nine-tower MAN Roland Uniset 75 pressline.

Previously running another register control system, the site noticed an increase in demand for higher quality colour pages, faster start-ups and reduced waste; QuadTech seemed to be the right answer.

The QuadTech system was chosen because of its ease of installation and cost competitiveness, according to Michael Condon, manager of Rural Press Printing, Ballarat. He pointed to a 1 per cent reduction in operating waste achieved so far.

Condon does not expect this 1 per cent saving to increase, mainly because of the small run sizes of newspapers that the plant prints. "I think we will get to a point where we plateau out and are happy with that," he said.

"We certainly noticed a nig savings in waste and those savings are worth a great deal to our bottom line," he said. "The QuadTech technology is a much quicker system. It locks in much faster so the press operators have more time on the press to get their colour right."

Condon lists a standout feature of the QuadTech as the MultiCam camera that allows for fast searching, tracking of dots and reduced maintenance. An integrated ICON operating platform also makes it possible to control the entire system through a single interface. "The camera system is fantastic," Condon said.

Since switching to the QuadTech system, Condon says that clients have noticed the difference in quality and have commented on how many pictures now appear to be sharper. "Customers can see their registration holds much better throughout the runs and as a result we are able to offer the system as a selling point to them," he said.

Reflecting on the installation which took place in November last year, Condon notes that the plant is still running smoothly. "The system works well and it's done everything we asked it to do," he said.

"Printers enjoy it and it's helped our reproduction immensely."