Printers are moving away from nearline and offline finishing options in favour of the efficiencies offered by inline systems. There are plenty of finishing options that can be used either inline or offline on a digital press and, while previously most printers went for an offline or nearline option, evidence suggests that many are now opting for inline systems, according to Ibis Bindery Systems managing director John Cracknell. "In the past, people have been uncomfortable with inline production, but now they are not so nervous," he says. Cracknell reckons that around 70% of Ibis machines are sold inline. This shift is partly down to inline systems being more efficient and able to deliver saleable print faster; falling run lengths mean the price per copy is now a major concern for printers and the ability to finish a job inline eliminates damage that might occur in transferring printed sheets from one machine to another. In addition, a lot of digital presses use toner or electrostatically applied inks, which are more prone to scratching, cracking and rub-off, so most digital printers opt for suction-fed machines, rather than friction-fed machines.
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