Open fountain vs. injection: What the suppliers say

“In our opinion injectors [don’t necessarily have] a high-tech image, even if micro-mechanics and electronic boards are necessary to operate [them]. In terms of reliability, performance and productivity, other solutions are ‘high-tech’ as well.”
-- Anton Hamm, MAN Roland

“Film has trouble with speed variations. Open-fountain gains water in the process over time, and the whole ink train can become emulsified. The intensity of the image is then reduced by the displaced water.”
-- Rick Atwater, CGI

“The open-fountain systems used today are very similar to the inkers used on the highest-grade commercial inkers. The page pack or injector is favoured by some as a benefit to deliver a precise amount of ink in a closed environment.”
-- Gary Owen, KBA

“A failure of a motor-driven ink zone during night production can be solved by setting the zone manually or changing the small component quickly. Solving a malfunction in a digital inker takes much more time because of the higher complexity.”
-- Klaus Schmidt, KBA

“Open-fountain systems are a bit easier to formulate inks for. Injection systems demand much more precise management of ink viscosity.”
-- John R. Whalen, Kerley Ink