France's First Full Wifag evolution

By: E&P Staff While Ouest France put its Wifag evolution 371 add-on towers into production this month, Les Derni?res Nouvelles d'Alsace (DNA) ordered what will be France's first complete evolution 371 press, comprising three full-color printing towers, one 2:5:5 jaw folder, autoturn turner-bar units, and five autopasters.

The new press will replace two of Wifag's first OF 5 presses, ordered 30 years ago, when the then-100-year-old DNA converted to the Berliner format. The Strasbourg-based regional daily, circulating approximately 220,000 copies, will continue to use the Wifag OF 7 it purchased 15 years ago. The evolution 371 will be installed in line with the OF 7, with ABB's MPS workflow and control system supporting operation of both press sections.

As of next January, the new press is to print most of the paper's 27 editions. The modular design will permit installation without additional building work, according to Wifag.

DNA's press may be expanded with additional print couples, and the evolution 371 was designed for upgrade with image-based closed-loop controls for cut-off register, color register and ink density, and laser modules for direct, on-press imaging of process-free plates.