Publishers of the ‘Rheinische Post’ wanted “two commercial presses that could also print newspapers” they told fellow waterless press users at the eighth Cortina workshop.

Customers from Europe and Dubai were at the KBA event in Düsseldorf, where Cortina press has been printing the ‘Post’ and other products for the past two years. Swelling attendance – from six participants in 2005 to 70 newspaper users and suppliers from nine countries this year – reflects growing interest and uptake.

The discussed experiences and strategies regarding waterless newspaper printing, substrates used, innovations in press and process technology, and new options such as inline coating to meet the challenges of producing coldset products to semicommercial quality.

Representatives of Al Nisr Publishing in Dubai took part in the workshop for the first time. A few months ago a large Cortina with four hot-air dryers went live at a production plant in the middle of the desert printing the prominent English-language title the ‘Gulf News’ and other titles.

They were welcomed by Rheinisch Bergische Druckerei managing director Matthias Tietz (pictured) a keen advocate of the Cortina concept. “We wanted two commercial presses that could also print newspapers,” he says.

The Düsseldorf-based company has proved the Cortina’s capability, printing printing newspapers, supplements, freesheets and special publications on different types of stock without a dryer. Plant manager Jens Koudmani gave examples when outlining the technology used.

There were also status reports by 18 users from the Benelux states, Germany, France, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Dubai; ink, paper, blanket and plate manufacturers showcased innovations in consumables for waterless newspaper printing.

In addition to plate vendor Toray, representatives of US plate manufacturer Presstek also took part in the workshop, presenting a new waterless plate specially designed for high-performance web printing which is now being extensively tested in a pressroom environment.

The workshop’s agenda included discussions on joint projects, economic issues and how to market waterless printing. An evening spent at a local brewery, Uerige Obergaerige Hausbrauerei, helped to strengthen the international team spirit still further.

Pictured: RBD managing director Matthias Tietz welcomed participants

Below: The 70 Cortina users and consumables suppliers who attended the user workshop in Düsseldorf