Presstek, Inc. is the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions. They recently announced that Maryland-based Herron Printing considers its Presstek 34DI digital offset press as a crucial factor in its ability to reduce its carbon footprint.

The president of Herron Printing and Graphics said that over five years ago, his company started to reduce their environmental footprint by implementing Presstek’s chemistry-free plates on a Dimension Platesetter to support their conventional four-color press. Two years ago, they replaced this press with a Presstek 34DI instead of acquiring a five-color press. They found that the Presstek 34DI produces less waste, improves their print quality, and saves time over a conventional offset press.

Herron Printing is dedicated to making their operation as environmentally friendly as possible. To this end, the company car is a hybrid, they recycle all paper waste and cardboard, and use vegetable-based inks on the Presstek 34DI press. They also plan to convert to 100% wind power. The energy cost is 20% higher than energy produced with carbon-based fuel but it is a step forward to reducing dependence on petroleum.

Despite disappointing U.S. sales, digital printing equipment maker Presstek Inc. turned a profit. The Hudson company made big gains last quarter with profits of $500,000 versus a loss of $4.9 million in the same April through July period last year. Presstek lost more than $12 million in 2007 and amid increasing financial difficulties, a new executive team was put in place early in the year. They instituted a business improvement plan to cut expenses.

Presstek has credited this plan with strengthening their balance sheet. Their lean cost structure drove a net profit. Revenue in the second quarter was $54.3 million, a 21% or $14.5 million decline from the same period in 2007. European revenue rebounded from the first quarter while U.S. sales declined significantly. The drop in sales were as a result of the overall U.S. economic slowdown.

Presstek was able to turn a profit because operating expenses declined $6.9 million, or 30%, from the same period in 2007. The company CEO claims that they made excellent progress in areas within their control and achieved results through focus, dedication and hard work. Third-quarter financial results will include money from the previously announced sale of the company’s Lasertel property in Tucson, Arizona for $8.75 million.

Presstek announced the appointment of Rolf Schmidt KG as an additional new dealer in Germany. The Ronnenberg-based company distributes prepress, digital printers, related media and customer services and will focus on the distribution of the Presstek 52DI and 34DI digital offset presses in Germany’s northern regions.

Presstek DI digital offset presses are the ideal printing solution for Germany’s print communications providers as they continue the quality benefits of traditional offset presses with the digital workflow efficiencies of toner-based devices. Multiple studies indicate that over 80% of the four-color printing market requires quantities of 5,000 or less. This makes the Presstek DI the most profitable, high-quality solution to bridge the gap between the conventional offset presses and digital toner-based devices. The DI presses are also easy to integrate into existing printing environments.

Presstek’s highly automated sheetfed, four-color digital offset presses offer one of the most profitable solutions for quick turnaround, short-run high quality color printing. The DI presses do not require separate prepress systems since the chemistry-free plates are imaged directly on the press. The Presstek DI offers one of the lowest costs per sheet at run lengths of 500 to 10,000, a plus since 80% of the color printing market is 5,000 impressions or less.