What the Heck is a Cold Press?

Print larger quantities faster and for less money

Most people are familiar with the term offset web printing. Web offset printing is generally used for larger print runs, and when utilized properly can be very economical, with the most typical applications being publications, catalogs, and books.   

What you might not know is that web presses are divided into two classes.  Understanding the benefits can help you communicate faster to your audience at a lower cost.

 The two classes are:

1. Cold (or non-heat-set) offset web press
2. Heat-set offset web press

The main differences are really how the inks are dried. With cold web offset printing, ink dries while being absorbed into the paper. Heat set, on the other hand, dries with heaters or drying lamps before the ink is considered cured.  

Cold-set presses work mostly with offset or uncoated paper stock (and yes the technology is a bit older). Perfect usage for a cold press are PMS/spot colors and black and white print work, maybe investment prospectuses, inserts, self-mailers, letters and pharmaceutical product information sheets (PIs).

 Heat-set presses give you a bit more versatility with the kinds of paper, but they aren’t always as cost effective. 

The cold-set press is a favorite option for our customers because of the larger quantities that can be produced with a short amount of lead time. Of course, the cost effectiveness is a big draw as well. Just because the technology is older doesn’t mean it should be retired, right?

Contact us to find out how you can take advantage of our cold-set press.

Photo courtesy of picantecreative.com