Why should a newspaper publisher or printer consider investing in digital printing today?

Digital printing has been on the agenda of newspaper publishers for many years now without significant adoption. It is true to say that most digital printing of newspapers today is limited to the tourist and ex-pat applications that we have seen in countries like Dubai and around the Mediterranean. The reason for that is clear: with the growing use of the internet for news, the market for Day B newspapers is quite difficult and in addition, the economics of printing a newspaper at the point of sale rather than sending by air-freight works.

The case for using inkjet in more mainstream production is less clear-cut. There are opportunities for marketing more localized editions of titles but this requires some fundamental changes in the creation of editorial and the selling of advertising.

Today, it is not the solution to every publishing situation but as technology improves and the management of data within publishing houses is better controlled it will provide exciting opportunities over the coming years.

What is your business vision for digital printing in the newspaper sector? 

In the next three to five years we expect to see more installations at remote production sites that take advantage of the ease and cost of production versus central production and either air or land distribution. We expect the speeds and costs to improve sufficiently for this to also become attractive within single countries rather than just for tourist titles. For example, some of the bigger countries with large but geographically spread communities are already looking at ways to produce locally.

In addition, we expect to see print and finishing options introduced that allow the integration of digital and conventional production so that certain sections of mainstream titles can be printed digitally – this can be used to reflect the interests of small communities such different postcodes or even different sports clubs.

What print head technology does your Truepress Jet520 use and why?
It uses Epson because of its industrial strength reliability.

What type of ink and what paper qualities can be used – also standard newsprint?

Both, waterbased dye ink, pigment ink can be used. Standard newsprint is no problem.

Has the press been sold already to print newspapers?

Yes, one in Dubai (printer and distribution company Atlasgroup) and one in Greece (Kronos Press Distribution Agency).

Read also the user interviews with Edgar Theodore, Atlas Group, and Christophoros Eraclides, Milkros Digital Cyprus.