This refers to the unbroken, continuous ribbon of paper unwinding from a massive roll and traveling through the printing units of a web press. Unlike sheetfed printing where individual pieces of paper are picked up one by one, a web system prints on the moving ribbon at extremely high speeds before cutting and folding it at the delivery end. Maintaining the correct tension on this ribbon is critical to prevent tearing or misregistration.
We had a web break on unit three, so it will take at least twenty minutes to rethread the press and get back up to speed.
Do not mix it up with
- Sheetfed: A web is a continuous roll of paper, whereas sheetfed refers to presses that print on individual, pre-cut sheets.
Related terms
Sheetfed
Describes a printing press that takes individual, pre-cut sheets of paper.
Perfecting press
A printing machine that prints on both sides of a continuous sheet or web of paper in a single pass.
Webbing
The system of tapes or belts that guide a continuous roll of paper through a press.
Paper jam
A mechanical fault where sheets of paper become stuck inside the feed mechanism of a printing device.