Technology & Research

Press Testing and Analysis
The press test is a professional assessment of your printing machine's ability to produce product at or above commercial acceptability. During the test we will strive to assess the quality potential of your printing machine(s). All problem areas will be documented.

Press testing is the means by which we will test your prepress, platemaking and pressroom's ability to market your product in a highly competitive marketplace. The assembly of the test films, correct, balanced exposure to the plate of your choosing, use of your process inks, fountain concentrate, and paper stock will show what can be accomplished when the printing process is brought under control.

During the press test, Printing Industries of America will observe and evaluate prepress, platemaking and printing activities with regard to methods, procedures, and equipment. Direction will be given where necessary, to enhance press testing results.

A thorough assessment of press conditions and components will be made prior to running the press test. To achieve the best test results in the most economical time frame, presetting of all press functions to manufacturer’s specifications would be appreciated.

The press test requires printing of Printing Industries of America test targets to determine register accuracy, ink starvation, cylinder conditions and print characteristics. For those printers seeking a press fingerprinting assessment of the press run will be performed. This service, however, will incur an additional laboratory fee.

Press Acceptance (Commissioning a Press)
By having Printing Industries of America present during a press acceptance testing, a printer's capital investment of a new or used press is being validated. A report of the analysis will be provided as documentation of the press characteristics and primary part for successful color management. This document is the benchmark of how your new printing press is printing. For decades Printing Industries of America has performed thousands of press tests both sheetfed and web presses and officially recognized as the only unbiased third part in the printing industry.

For more information and to schedule a consultation, contact Printing Industries of America 412-527-2403, or consult@printing.org.