Installations News
FCL Graphics to outfit third web press with Baldwin Vision Systems technology

Chicago-based FCL Graphics has upgraded two of their commercial web offset presses with colour control and ink delivery technology from Baldwin Vision Systems. Technology upgrades on these first two full-web presses resulted in higher print quality and an immediate 50 per cent reduction in waste. Based on these results, a third upgrade on a half-web press is in the works.

According to Kurt Kunde, FCL’s vice-president of operations, “We have presses that have been in operation for 15-18 years and are mechanically very sound. We basically scrapped everything on the machines from a controls standpoint, replaced it with the Baldwin Vision Systems technology, and made them brand new presses overnight.”

The full-web presses are Harris M1000s and the half-web press scheduled for upgrade is a Harris M110B.

“Our very experienced press operators love the systems,” said Kunde, “and because the interfaces are so easy to use, we’re able to train new operators more quickly.”

The technology from Baldwin Vision Systems includes the RIC Remote Ink Control. RIC can replace obsolete or unsupported press controls. Retrofit possibilities include simple ink key actuator replacements or upgraded electronics for existing actuators, as well as segmented ink blade replacements. The system controls ink zones individually, by selectable group, or all together to achieve precise ink control.