Inkjet's Age, a print supplement to Quick Printing, is a business and technology brand dedicated to corporate and senior management and focusing on issues surrounding inkjet printing technology in all its forms. Inkjet's Age covers the industry news,
Issue link: https://quickprinting.epubxp.com/i/268657
There is growing optimism in the news- paper industry that the combination of new business models and digital production may walk hand-in-hand with traditional produc- tion techniques to give newspaper printers additional revenue. In Italy, newspaper printer Centro Stampa Quotidiani (CSQ) applied creative thinking and an investment in digital production equipment to give its publishers the benefits of its technologies and experience. Established in 2000, CSQ is a joint venture between two newspaper publishers, L'Eco di Bergamo and Giornale di Brescia. "Today it is not unusual to hear of two or more publishers establishing a joint venture company to print their newspapers, but in 2000, this was an innovative—even revolu- tionary—idea," said Dario De Cian, general manager, CSQ. "As such, it has provided a platform of stability that many newspaper printers do not enjoy." Carving a Niche for Digital Newspapers At the beginning of 2013, CSQ installed an HP T230 Color Inkjet Web Press—the first HP Inkjet Web Press technology dedi- cated to newspaper production. CSQ had identified a niche that digital printing could fill using its HP press: dur- ing the summer months, the company printed several foreign newspapers for dis- tribution to Mediterranean resorts. While summer volumes justified using the compa- ny's offset presses, outside the tourist season, printing and distribution ceased because the print volumes weren't viable. With the ad- dition of the press, CSQ can not only print these titles in smaller volumes in the off season, but they bring the added value of printing for same-day delivery of the news to the ex-pat community and tourists. "We have always adopted cutting-edge technology right from the start of our busi- ness," said De Cian. "Now we are adopting the latest digital technology so we can offer a year-round solution to our customers." The ability of the press to print on the same newsprint substrate (typically 45g/ m2) and at the same quality as the offset edition on the same day were among the key criteria in the choice of the press. "HP Bonding Agent technology elimi- 22 MARCH 2014 • INKJET'S AGE www.MyPRINTResource.com CASE STUDY CSQ Offers Flexible Digital Printing Solutions to Newspaper Publishers AT A GLANCE Industry: Publishing Business name: Centro Stampa Quotidiani (CSQ) Headquarters: Lombardy, Italy Website: csqspa.it Challenge • Develop a strategy and install an equipment base that enables a dynamic response in a contract- ing market. • Offer a high-quality, versatile printing service to newspaper publishers. • Provide a cost-effective digital option for short-run newspapers and supplements. • Identify gaps in the market that can be filled with innovative products printed digitally. Solution • The HP T230 Color Inkjet Web Press with near-line finishing from HP Finishing Partner Hunkeler for producing newspapers, covers and flyers. Results • Production of 10 regular digitally- printed publications, including three daily and three weekly titles as well as seasonal newspapers and supplements. • A strategy and technology base that offers production flexibility and a strong defense to the cur- rent economic situation. • A waste-saving solution for pub- lishers of shorter-run newspapers and for foreign newspapers. • Localized supplements open up new opportunities for potential advertisers. "WE'VE SEEN NEWSPAPERS that we print conventionally move to digital because of falling run lengths, and we're seeing growth in publications that began digitally, about ready to move to conventional production. Without the HP T230 Color Inkjet Web Press, we wouldn't have those options," said Dario De Cian,general manager, CSQ QPsupp_22-23_0314 CS CSQ.indd 22 2/18/14 11:45 AM