New DG5 positive plates, not yet available outside of Japan, are capable of run lengths of up to 1,000,000 with proper paper stock and roller settings. This run length capability would satisfy 80 percent of the U.S. web market. Aware that excessive heat build-up was an enemy of waterless, MAN Roland engineers took a comprehensive approach to press temperature control. Rotoman web temperatures are controlled from the ink ball down to the oscillator rollers. From there, additional cooling is provided directly to the plate and blanket cylinders.
Oil cooling is used to control temperatures in the side frames.
The package was first presented to AVD for testing in March of 1994. Many tests were performed at MAN Roland's Augsburg demonstration center. The test runs were conducted using AVD's press crew and waterless plates made from films that were representative of the company's publication production. Based upon these results AVD chose to replace one of its aging heatset webs with the new MAN Roland Rotoman D waterless press. With no dampening system, the press is the first of its kind in Europe.