Chicago contract newspaper printer Newsweb Corporation is to install the TKS inkjet web press the Japanese company showed printing the ‘Wall Street Journal’ at DRUPA.

A letter of intent covers the JetLeader 1500 digital colour press, which uses piezoelectric ‘drop-on demand’ technology to print at up to 150 metres/minute. The online newspaper folding system will handle products up to 72 pages in five sections.

Based in Lincoln Park, the company currently prints ethnic and alternative newspapers coldset web, and is also the owner of radio stations in the area.

Printing division president Rodd Winscott says the company had been looking at digital ink jet technology for years, “but did not feel it was where we wanted it to be.”

DRUPA changed that: “After the show, we knew this was the machine to take our printing to a new level and create new business opportunities. TKS has a superb reputation for offset presses and we know this will carry over to its JetLeader product line”.

President and chief executive of TKS Ltd Yoshikazu Shiba says the company is excited to be working with Newsweb. “It has a great reputation in its market and wants to enjoy the benefits of offset and inkjet printing,” he says.

“Having a North American show place is very important to prove the technology and business model as well as to further work with paper and ink suppliers in a more central location.”

The press should be in operation in Chicago by October, making it possible for visitors to the GraphExpo convention (October 7-10) to see it.

TKS USA president Nobuyuki Nakajima says the press will be used for smaller runs currently printed offset, as well as new business including books, catalogues and variable data.