Me & My: Boettcher N1008

Describe your company.

In 1922, Anandabazar Patrika was first published as a four-page evening daily that sold at two paise and had a circulation of about 1,000 copies a day. Eighty-five years later, Anandabazar Patrika reaches out to close to six million readers, every day. Today, the ABP Group has evolved into a media conglomerate that has eleven premier publications, three 24-hour national TV news channels, one leading book publishing business as well as mobile and internet properties.

 

When did you start to use the fount and what are the properties you like?

We started using the N1008 from September 2009 in our Wifag OF 370 S web offset machine. The product has been stable and consistent.

 

Why did you decide to invest in this technology? How are you benefiting?

Boettcher fount was recommended by Wifag. N1008 was offered by Bottcher as a suitable product for Wifag. The availability in Indian market, logistics support and low inventory cost has benefited us over the years.

 

Did you look at other similar founts? Which were they?

We are also using founts from DSC Malaysia, namely Neutral Fount – Acedin Q7 & Acidic Fount – Acedin Web 1550. In fact, usage of N1008 is restricted to 20% of our total consumption.

 

What are the features that tilted the favour in this fount?

Consistency and stability.

 

How much have these features helped you in print work?

It has helped us to obtain predictable results.

 

Is there anything that you do not like about the fount?

Water uptake with N1008 is very high, resulting in excess consumption and badly affecting reproduction quality. Dot sharpness and clarity of the print is much inferior with N1008 in comparison with other founts that we are using. Also, start up wastage is higher with N1008. So, we have developed N1008Sn with Bottcher and presently using the same. Water uptake with N1008Sn is less than N1008. The start-up waste has improved but still not at par with DSC founts.

 

If there’s a critical print job that has come your way, would you rely on this fount to see it through?

Not really.

 

Do you think it allows you the flexibility to do urgent jobs on the fly?

Yes, with compromise in quality.

 

What’s the quality like? Can you give examples to compare quality enhancement?

Average. Start up should improve, water uptake should be less, and reproduction quality should improve.

 

How easy is it to use?

No problem in usage.

 

Would you say that it offers value for money? Please explain how?

Yes, it does. It provides acceptable quality with competitive price.

 

Were there any difficulties experienced during the consumption or after?

There were emulsification, plate piling and other quality issues, which got addressed in due course.

 

Who do you think the fount is right for?

The fount is right for a printer with substantial volume who is looking for a standard, consistent product with competitive price.

 

Under what circumstances would you recommend it to others?

It can be considered for newspaper printing presses but not recommended for commercial jobs, where quality is demanding and uncompromised.