Re: TRUEPRESS 344
Problems as such ,are an intolerance of variable temperatures in its surroundings which lead to variation of damping levels which in turn lead to dot gain and variations in colour especially in the neutral grey areas of which we tend to print quite a lot. It is almost impossible to print the same job in the same colour from one day to the next even with minder adjustments and even changes during the course of morning to afternoon printing. There is a variation in colours from grip edge to leave so variations in colour show up if printing two or four up.
Our press has shown a complete intolerance of our inks and chemicals (all of which have worked for years on our Speedmasters, GTO and Sorms.) and we now are running on Screen recommended chemicals and Van Son Inks which, just like our inks on this press, tends to emulsify very easily ,quite apart from the fact that the colours of the VanSon inks themselves vary from batch to batch. We have increased the Alcohol dosage which has gone someway to decreasing the emulsifying problem, which in turn does not help our ambitions of being alcohol free.
The instability of Ink/Water balance due to the inability of the machine to recognize that one has changed from a light to heavy ink density job means the minder has to be alert to potential problems and override automatic settings. The fact that you cant see anything thats happening on the machine means you dont realise the problem 'til the machine churns out the first sheeet. Always assuming that its going to come out in the first place.
The sheet decurler couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding so we have to hand decurl on some back ups particularly on the heavier stocks. This is obviously going to be a recurring problem given the size of the impression cylinder. That a quarter of a million pounds plus machine doesn't have adjustable angle pick up suckers on the Feeder just about sums the feeder up. Even Rotaprints had adjustable suckers for Gods sake. Feeder settings are quite critical to prevent misregister and nearly every job is run on maximum blow and suck which goes against the grain of everything I've ever been taught.
On the User friendly front. Well. When you've cleaned the blankets, and Impression cylinders by hand at the end of the shift, let me know how your back feels. Due to the fact that every guard on the machine prevents any visibility whatsoever of the print process, I've had more sheets round rollers and smashed blankets than in the last 30 years put together. And when you've had to take the inking and damping rollers out and back and reset them, then you can try telling me it's user friendly. It's handy if you are ambidextrous.
Lots of other, but niggly problems have arisen, not really worth mentioning but put together as a whole package contribute to the factors that make me say that this is the worst press I have ever had the misfortune to have operated
We've had the machine 5 months now. And I have worked many machines. New ones have come in and, yes, I've encountered teething problems. Nothing which has never been solved or common sense has not resolved. It is capable of printing a good solid, prints a lovely dot if it's not too hot under the collar and prints a nice job. Whether the job is MEANT to look like that or is the same as you've printed previously is another matter.
The Screen engineers and demonstrators are really nice guys and very helpful. I'm on first name terms with them all. What does that tell you?