Offset Printing

Centro Stampa Quotidiani continues strategy and also equips new press with Q.I. Press Controls

Thursday 27. April 2023 - Centro Stampa Quotidiani (CSQ) is the newest and largest printing centre in Italy. It recently added another press, a GOSS UNIVERSAL 75, to its inventory. This press was already equipped with the IRS colour register system from Q.I. Press Controls (QIPC).

Now the IDS system is also being installed to control inking, dampening and defect detection in a close loop system.
CSQ produces around 100 million copies of newspapers a year, which are distributed throughout central and northern Italy. The product range extends from daily newspapers to weekly and monthly magazines and individual productions from very long to very short runs. Some of the titles printed are Giornale di Brescia, L’Eco di Bergamo, La Provincia, Avvenire, Il Sole 24 Ore and also locally printed international titles such as Bild am Sonntag. The printing plant produces in three shifts seven days a week.
The relationship between CSQ and Q.I. Press Controls dates back to 2004 when CSQ placed the first order. Over the years, other orders followed. Now the automation of all 4 WIFAG offset presses is being brought to a maximum with QIPC’s optical measurement and control systems. With production costs among the lowest in the industry, CSQ is able to offer competitive prices with very high print quality.
CSQ’s latest press, the GOSS UNIVERSAL 75, was acquired by L’Adige (Trento) in 2019. This press was already equipped with QIPC’s IRS colour register system and press control solutions from QIPC’s sister company EAE Engineering Automation Electronics (EAE). After reassembly and re-commissioning, the GOSS press proved to work well. Dario De Cian, General Manager CSQ: “For the GOSS press we wanted to have the same workflow, the same print quality and the same low number of operators per shift as on our other four WIFAG presses. That is why we decided to invest in the IDS system. This is in addition to the existing register systems. We bought our first IRS system for colour register and cut-off register control in 2004. So we have been working with QIPC for almost twenty years. However, with the commissioning of the GOSS press in May, we will be working with EAE Press Controls for the first time.”
The GOSS UNIVERASL 75 consists of 5 printing units and 1 folder. The installation of the new 10 IDS-3D cameras is done with a new 3D platform that also integrates the existing register cameras. All cameras will then work from one system and control colour and cut-off register as well as closed-loop colour. In addition to closed-loop colour control, the IDS 3D cameras will detect and adjust the dampening solution feed fully automatically. Another function will be defect detection. Simultaneously with the ink measurement, the IDS-3D will check both the printed and white paper areas for defects. If it detects problems such as incorrectly positioned plates, print defects such as scumming/smearing and paper wrinkles, the system will sound an alarm and store the information in the IQM for reporting purposes.
IQM (Intelligent Quality Management) was also part of this order. This management information system visualises the quality of the printed matter produced. IQM is a web-based system that in this case uses the measurement data from the IDS-3D. The IQM system not only provides detailed information on the quality of the individual products, but can also help CSQ develop strategies and solutions to improve the production process.
Dario De Cian: “For the new investment, we expect the same excellent cooperation that we have come to expect from QIPC. We also expect a continuation of previous investments in terms of results, namely high and consistent quality and a reduction in the number of staff on the press.”
Harold Drinhuyzen, Area Sales Manager QIPC for Italy: “CSQ is a state-of-the-art printer. The fact that they have continued their strategy and invested again in QIPC for their new press is a fantastic reward. It is not only a confirmation that our system has stood the test of time. It also shows that the good working relationship and long-term support is very much appreciated.”