The Impact of In-Press Imaging and Erasable Forms on Press Design

The main structuring factor of today's printing industry is not the print process itself, but the printing form preparation and the change-over characteristics. Innovations in the form preparation process bear the potential of having a big impact on the printing industry. This paper would like to show the new opportunities in mechanical engineering and for the general press concept which have been made possible by in-press imaging in combination with erasable printing forms.