Summary

This Ifra Special Report was written for all those, who are planning and preparing to investment in press and mailroom equipment. The first edition of this text has been published as an Ifra book in 1999. This second English edition is published as an Ifra Special Report in order to make it available for a wider audience of Ifra members and non-members. Buyers as well as vendors should use the recommendations of this report in order to reduce double work and to avoid misunderstandings. If this report will help to save only one avoidable meeting with a salesman the price of it will have paid back fully. During the professional lifetime of a technical director in a newspaper company the challenge of making a decision for a new press will most probably only appear once or twice. On the other hand making a wrong decision for a new press may cause not only a lot of short term troubles, but may also lead a newspaper company into the wrong future direction. Salesmen and technical support people also should know which questions to ask before selling a new press or mailroom system. Only if they can meet the real requirements of their customer, he or she will continue the good relationship with the vendor and will come back to the same manufacturers after years. This is why this report speaks to both, users and vendors. It intends to help from of decision making until the equipment is installed and tested. Kjell Johnson wrote this Ifra Special Report. Kjell Johnson lives in Spain. He is active as an Ifra Certified Consultant. Kjell has worked in leading positions for more then 35 years for both manufacturers and printers, in the Scandinavian newspaper industry.