IFRA

Semi-commercial jobs which would normally require heatset printing are being produced in coldset at the Singapore Press Holding (SPH) Media Centre Plant on their manroland UNISET press using various types of newsprint. "We have done posters, leaflets, newsletters & magazines. Our customers include banks, retail outlets, government bodies, hospitals, associations, etc.," says Anthony Cheng, Executive Vice-President of Production at SPH. "The financial crisis actually brought about opportunities in that companies that are used to glossy heatset promotional materials are driven to look at alternatives because of budget constraints, and have begun to accept coldset newsprint stock (of higher grammage 70-95 gsm and wood-free or hybrid grade that are much brighter in shade) as an viable alternative, achieving more or less the same marketing objectives. This has brought about an unexpected but much welcome revenue stream to us,” he said. Cheng’s team has also broke new grounds by successfully printing on translucent newsprint with coldset printing process and normal coldset inks.