Web-fed Kluge

I have the potential opportunity to get a Kluge WFD 12x18 basically for free. Space in my new shop isn’t overly short and would love to tinker with a web fed press for - at the very least - experimental reasons. Has anyone used one for its intended purpose and have any general pointers on their operation?

Cheers and best,

mnreggie

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Maybe use as a foil puller?

Perhaps. It already has the foil attachment, based on some local requests actually interested in printing pressure sensitive labels for clients on rolls. Thus, trying to use it for the intended purpose… seems to be niche enough (in our already niche world) that there’s little documentation on them.

I believe the WFD model was fed using paper which had been pre-converted by rotary punching the edges with sprocket holes, the primary reason for the press was to imprint constant copy and color on forms to be printed on high-speed computer line printers (for checks, billing invoices, etc.)

You might be able to utilize the paper draw system to feed un-punched rolls somehow with a bit of engineering, but I would think the side-to-side “tracking” of the web would be difficult to control.

Most of these models I have seen running were being fed “pack-to-pack” from fan-folded piles of paper, printed and then returned to a fan-folded stack.

John Henry
Cedar Creek Press

John,

That makes a mountain of sense - both in construction and in their *ahem* retirement. Repeat feeding, if controlled and quite consistent would be the key usability factor. Perhaps one could create a gauge system to lock the paper into position and keep it from wandering…. hrmmmm more to consider.

Thank you for your insight!

if you’re lucky you have the “Trac-drive” stock advance. The older “pin-wheels” would tear text weight stocks. at the factory we could line as many inline as you wanted. 7 machines in a row, was the most i was involved with. then there was the line hole punch on the front, and a fan folder on the back. the whole thing was prob 60 feet long. you could start with a virgin roll of stock and end up with 2 color printed, 3 foils, an emboss, and numbered. fan folded, ready for you competer printer. ev thing was set to the speed of the first machine, reading the “loop” of the stock in between presses via electric eyes.