As part of the preparation for next year`s election, the preliminary voters` roll has been printed on an Oc'e DemandStream 8090CX twin printing system installed at the Government Printing Works (GPW) in Pretoria. In all, the voters` roll comprises over a million A4 images and the Oc'e DemandStream 8090 CX printed this impressive document hassle-free.
The GPW is responsible for the production of Government Gazettes, patent journals, ID books, passports, revenue stamps and a host of other key government documentation, where security is critical. In addition to the preliminary voters` roll, the GPW is also using the printer for the production of high security work such as end-of-year examination papers, which have to be printed under extremely secure conditions.
Installed earlier this year, the highly acclaimed Oc'e Demandstream 8090 digital web press is managed by Oc'e-developed PRISMA software, part of the company`s world-leading capability in data and file format handling. The GPW site is a unique one in that the configuration of the machine has been especially tailored to meet the GPW`s requirements.
The Oc'e Demandstream 8090 CX is a multi-tasking system that allows the GPW to deliver one of three different types of output, namely: A4 or A3 loose sheets, for finishing elsewhere or for use in loose-leaf binder insertion; perfect bound books, with covers, ranging in size from A4 to A5 and up to 55mm thick; and saddle-stitched booklets, in A4, A5 or A6, with a maximum of 196 pages. However, adding to the Demandstream 8090`s versatility is the fact that it allows the GPW to deliver two different products simultaneously, either perfect-bound books and saddle-stitched booklets, or saddle-stitched booklets and loose-leaf, stacked output.
GPW`s Joe Engelbrecht, the Acting Government Printer, is widely travelled and ensures he is kept up to date with international trends in print, particularly when it comes to document security. He says: "The Demandstream offers an outstanding print speed, as well as a choice of loose-leaf, perfect binding or saddle stitching."
The GPW has installed DocSetter, Oc'e`s latest scanning and image-management software, which has revolutionised its hard copy input requirements. Engelbrecht says: "Jobs that previously took up to four hours to assemble for printing, can now be ready to print in less than 40 minutes."
In addition, Oc'e`s Prisma +POD software suite allows the GPW to RIP, impose, format and deliver jobs up to 75% faster than previously.
"The complete printing system is capable of delivering in excess of six million A4 images every four working days, and has proven to be exceptionally reliable in doing so. To print the preliminary voters` roll, we ran the machine on a 24-hour basis and were extremely satisfied with the high level of quality control and reliability."
Oc'e SA`s DDS senior account manager, Shaun Kennedy, says: "The entire line, which is more than 15 metres long and weighs more than 16 metric tonnes, was installed and up and running within 10 working days. The line is capable of working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, owing to the robustness and reliability of the overall system. The big plus here is that it only requires one operator to run the line."
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