The actual Roland 700 HiPrint HS that Stephenson will install shortly is being showcased at this week's Graph Expo in Chicago. In a phone interview from the show floor, company president George Stephenson told PrintWeek, "Sheetfed printing is such that every few years, you have to - not necessarily replace equipment - but add new things and for us this was the time to add a more efficient sheet-fed printer. We've been out looking for the most efficient equipment we can find and it came down to the Roland."

Because it is located only a few miles outside Washington, DC, Stephenson said the company does do some government-related printing. But the bulk of the company's work is for the private sector and includes publications, catalogs, annual reports, direct mail, booklets, brochures, inserts, newsletters, calendars and flyers.

While his company has been doing more short-run work than in the past, Stephenson noted, "We weren't looking for a new sheet-fed press specifically because we're getting more short-runs - it's really about the efficiency."

The Roland 700 HiPrint HS can produce 18,000 sheets per hour and has a maximum sheet size of 29inx41in providing more space to maximize the number of pages and multiple-up images. It features QuickChange options to automate air settings, adjust heights to thicknesses, engage rapid washing and reduce ink change times. A new feeder also improves vibration resistance, air control, sheet separation and sheet transfer, along with virtually continuous pile elevation control. The install will come with the SelectDryer IR/TL Performance, for more efficient and rapid drying of inks and coatings.

Stephenson Printing purchased its first Manroland press in 1962 and since that time it has purchased about 30 other presses from the company. Currently it operates two Manroland 6-color presses and a Manroland 8-color sheetfed press, along with web-to-print and digital equipment.

Stephenson noted the company's familiarity with Manroland presses means the learning curve for the Roland 70 HiPrint HS will be minimal. "It will require the same number of employees but at the end of the day they will have done double the work that we did on the old equipment," he added.