Quite a bit of interest in the cutdown to a 50" Web. The Orange County Register is currently in the midst of their project. The Los Angeles Times is also cutting down the Presses in their three facilities. The Portland Oregonian has completed the project on their older Metro Presses, actually went from 55" to 50 1/2".

The following are notes from the various User and Goss discussions regarding this cutdown:

• Folder / Cross-associate gears, levers & brackets have to be to be changed on most older Folders for clearance and correct mesh.
• Folder / May need to relocate outside Expansion Bands as in Portland, outside position is now on same mounting as next position, adjusted in tandem. May need to move or re-machine Folding Blades depending on Folder.
• Folder / Nip Barrels to be cut down to allow relocation inboard. Older Folders do not have telescopic Nips.
• Folder / Tubular RTF roller assemblies with replaceable segments used throughout in most shops. Major work on Former Carriages, as well as Former Boards for clearance and travel inboard to new specification.
• Folder / Balloon section guide rollers in between the lower Formers have to be replaced with smaller diameter rollers and brackets to allow the Former carriages to come inboard.
• Folder / Pins may need to be relocated on outside positions.
• Folder / Move in Delivery Fly hubs, as well as Delivery Belts.
• Unit / Goss has two-segment ink Rails to take the place of the older eight-segment assemblies. Changeover time and rail setting procedure times were reduced. They still have eight-columns per page.
• Unit / Plate Lockups changed to Tool-less in most sites, if they didn’t already exist.
• Unit / Dampening System may need work, especially Spray-bar systems which will require manifolds etc., Spiral Brush systems need water-stop work as well as trimming of brush ends to new width.
• Unit / VSI systems need to have the Pickup Roller trimmed.
• Ink & Damp Rollers will need to be trimmed. Most shops are changing to the new specification after the project is completed as a Maintenance item.
• RTP’s / Portland used one-piece Paster Brushes and relocated Tension Bands on their Static-belt RTP’s. May need to relocate the Severer blades as well.
• RTP’s / It was recommended to run 30 lb. Newsprint with the narrower web as tensile strength is decreased. Regardless, the Tension system will need to be fine-tuned on both Static-belt and CT-running belt reels.
• RTP’s / Reel arm stops need to be replaced.

Phoenix is using a 10% peroxide solution to keep their Dampening System free of biological growth. They add 1 oz. directly to the Dampener Tank (holds 80 gallons) three days per week.

Gutsheet with saturated color is dragging on Formers, is seen as overfeeding. Control this with use of Former air, proper Nip settings and condition, possibly replace the Trolley Arms with extended arms available from Goss on 160 Pg. Folders. This mod done at Contra Costa, New York Times, Phoenix, Slitter arms will need to be extended also.

Orange County removed the Dampener Transfer roller on their Headliner Offset units and now spray directly onto the ink drum for better damp retention, less spray loss, lower water level.

Seattle found variations in Spraybar nozzle volume from nozzle to nozzle. Dress the plunger seal face with sandpaper to flatten the dimple and return flow rates to standard.

Some shops using or testing new Hydrophilic dampener material, finding it to be more "water-loving", allowing lower dampener levels and curves (-5% to 10%). Seattle also found the rollers lasting up to twice as long and much easier to clean.

Most shops either using or testing the new One-piece Knives. Finding they are easier to install and set, lasting up to twice as long as conventional 4-segment knives, extending cutting rubber life, cleaner cut and less dust. Santa Barbara is using a ‘straight-tooth’ knife, finding it to help eliminate ‘dog-ears’.

Santa Barbara narrowed the Stripper Shoes in their Folders by 1/3, found that lessened surface area offered reduced friction and product roll-back. Some shops have tried milling out the center of these shoes for the same purpose, others have tried chemically coating such as offered by some vendors and industrial metal treaters.

Some shops using Silicone applied by an applicator prior to delivery. Improvements in delivery, reduced offsetting and ink buildup were the benefits seen.

Being tried at some shops for color inks. Finding increased mileage by up to 20%, reduced Ink/Water balance and curves dropped by up to 20%, less trouble if running product through Stitch & Trim.

Some shops reporting broken Folder Pins, & collets, as well as connecting links. Recommend using stainless links, dry moly-lube, inspect Pin-cam for wear.

A show of hands on the usage of 30 lb. versus 28 lb. Newsprint indicated a 50/50 split. Approximately 20% of the shops have now gone back to 30-lb. stock with improved Newsprint performance the reason given.

Many shops (about 50%) using the "Bridge Tape" on Pasters. Finding it to improve adhesion through the pre-drive or belt path, reduces wrinkles on pasting and improves pasting on ½ and ¾ rolls.

On the Static-belt RTP’s, it was recommended to check the Pre-drive speed match with a hand held tachometer. Variances due to Pre-drive belt wear or thickness may be found, affecting roll surface speed on incoming roll prior to pasting.