It was a good opportunity. Shortly before the shipment of a new narrow web offset printing machine for Austria the manufacturer of the printing presses Edelmann Graphics invited for an open-house in the head quarters of the company in Beerfelden in Odenwald. Many customers and those concerned used the opportunity they had in the beginning of 2009 to become informed directly on the site about the advantages of the offset technology while producing self-adhesive labels and flexible packaging as well as to discuss with the colleagues the necessity of new investments in this technology. Julius Friedrich, Sales and Administration Director of Edelmann Graphics together with Jorg Friedrich from the process equipment manufacturer Eltromat represented a machine with 8 printing sizes, with 6 offset- and 2 flexographic printing stations, as well as die-cutting, splicer and automatic winding in all the details possible. The machine itself was delivered to the German-speaking foreign country. It can be employed for production of medium and high run labels. The next offset machines for the label- and packaging print are being negotiated. Energetic Discussion of Pros and Cons The pros and cons always discussed before an investment decision is made were the topics of the initiated discussions. The excellent screen quality, comparatively low price of the plates as well as the possibility to introduce changes marking the offset printing so much out � all that speaks for offset. On the other hand, e.g. the lower investment costs or the supposedly more constant ink density speak for the flexographic technology. But here the comparable quality of the web- and sheet-fed offset machines provide for the compensation. The higher investment costs due to the constructional properties of web offset presses reveal quickly their relative character if one considers the costs of the process as a whole, especially if one compares the price of an offset plate and a flexographic plate or a flexographic sleeve cylinder. For Mr. Friedrich, this means that �depreciation of the higher investment costs in offset can be achieved more or less sooner through the extremely inexpensive plates. The more so of course as the numbers of copies especially in label and packaging printing are often not very high. This price advantage makes many of the printing houses working in this field think about switching to offset technology. We feel now a greater demand for information to that point, and the response to our invitation shows that as well�. One of the discussion topics was post-processing of the layout data being often expensive for flexographic printing as well. These data are usually prepared by the agencies mainly for offset applications. The experts concerned about this matter could see directly on the machine that Edelmann Graphics responded with a range of narrow web offset presses designed specifically for the inline-production of labels and packaging. Julius Friedrich is quoted as saying that �We are perfectly fit for the raised demands and new trends with our new �label�-machine make. Our high automation grade, proven and preserved technology of machine construction providing for the high quality of print, great flexibility and our excellent price-productivity-ratio are the perfect arguments for the medium-sized printing houses with mainly medium runs�. Practically �No Limits� in the variability According to Mr. Friedrich, the �label�-model range is suited for practically everything produced from reel: paper, cardboard, foil or aluminium. It doesn�t matter if it is self-adhesive labels, wet-glue labels, in-mould labels and up to flexible packaging or folded cartons. Wet offset technology is the basis here. Due to adjustment of the periphery printing stations with waterless-, letterpress-, flexographic, screen printing technology this model range achieves a nearly inexhaustible flexibility and variability. That is also true for the available web widths of 43, 48, 52 and up to 72/76 cm and for the cylinder circumferences of 280-1.220 mm. At that, the advantages of a great cylinder circumference are evident, as the plates can be better used with different labels � this reduces the format inserts. Technically, the driving mechanism of the EVO PRINT �Label�-machine can support up to 12 print stations. Economic advantages speak for offset �Our printing machines of the �Label�-model range are delivered with 2-cylinder print inserts with the spreading roller working on the bearer rings principle. With these print stations, the format change could be done without breaking the web. The makeready time and the amount of wastes between the two jobs are noticeably minimized. This, in turn, minimizes the running costs. It is with the lower runs that makes that argument especially important. Together with the lower plate cost in the offset technology being producible mainly on the site it means one more clear cost argument speaking for offset in label production�, - in such a way Mr. Julius Friedrich summarizes the costing advantages. �And the quality of the web offset presses is comparable with that of the sheet fed ones. This is determined by the construction of our offset print stations as well. It is distinguished by the hardened helical gears, ink sliders with motorized remote control, motorized ink feed roller control, temperature control system for the inking train incl. duct roller�. �With our sl-(shaftless)-version we work with two servo-motors pro offset print station, the first one driving the print insert and the second one staying for the inking train. There is also a separate duct drive. This allows to prepare the print stations not used with the current job for the next one during the production already. Moreover, the inline ink density measurement with close-loop is available optionally. This solution also reduces markedly the speed-up waste�. Individual design instead of �conveyor-standard� without extra charging According to Mr. Friedrich, it is also the advantage of Edelmann Graphics, that the customers do not have to buy the machine in a standard configuration but have the possibility to order a machine worked out specifically for their needs. �With that, they could flexibly respond to the demands of the market. Up to now we have worked out the configuration of all our �Label�- machines individually together with the customers so that now the low-cost flexible high-quality production has noticeably increased the competitiveness of the print houses. It is here where our slogan �Solution Provider in Print� gets ist full meaning.