Promoting generic best practice for web offset printing
 
The Web Offset Champion Group was formed in 1998 to “champion” best practice in the web offset printing industry as a tool to improve productivity, quality and safety. The Group is a joint project of international suppliers working with other industry specialists, printers and associations throughout the world to publish best practice guides. GATF is a principal content contributor and are also exclusive distributors in North America.
 
Focus on total production process
The group’s objective is to improve web offset productivity. This requires a cross-industry and cross-process approach because no single company can provide answers to all the variables of the press line and its consumables. Best practices are a tool to improve overall performance without making any capital investment. The potential returns are extremely high as each guide identifies ways to reduce processing costs, improve quality and reduce accidents.
 
Generic easy-to-read content
All web offset printers — irrespective of the brands of equipment or consumables that they use — can apply the generic content of guides. They provide printers with a base reference to best practice and effectively help transfer knowledge in a global industry.
 
Guides are written in a concise, easy-to-read style accompanied by numerous graphics and are intended to be read at all levels from managers to production employees. They explain how to work more efficiently, prevent errors, improve diagnostic procedures and help introduce new methods, standards and benchmarks.
 
World-wide review panel
Each guide is reviewed by a world-wide panel of industry specialists, printers, other suppliers and associations to improve their content and to ensure that they represent industry best practice.
 
Organisation
The Group is a non-profit organisation that is funded by sponsorship from it company members. Best practice information is contributed free-of-charge by members, other companies, individuals and associations.