CARROLLTON, TX – June 1, 2026 – Sentinel, a global leader in automated ink management solutions, is proud to announce the successful installation of its iPro Ink Management System at National Graphics in Oxnard, California, following the company’s transition to a new eight-color Komori Lithrone G40 advance perfector press in July 2025.
National Graphics is a diversified commercial printer producing approximately 80 percent of its work via offset, supported by a fleet of four presses. The installation of the new Komori press marked a major expansion in production capability, but also introduced a new operational challenge: managing ink delivery efficiently across more units at significantly higher press speeds.
That challenge became especially clear as National Graphics considered the transition from a four-color press running at approximately 10,000 sheets per hour to the new eight-unit system capable of up to 15,000 impressions per hour. President Michael Szanger said the scale of the change raised practical concerns. “I was concerned about us making the leap,” explained Szanger. “It was just a common sense challenge - we're not only increasing our impressions per hour, but we also have more ink trays to fill. How were we going to accomplish that?”
The Sentinel iPro system was introduced to remove that bottleneck entirely. Using ultrasonic sensors to continuously monitor ink levels, the system automatically dispenses precise replenishment exactly when needed. This maintains a consistent ink bead across all units while reducing waste and eliminating the need for constant manual oversight.
Szanger emphasized how significant the operational impact has been. Without Sentinel, he noted, the process would be nearly unmanageable at full speed:
“Imagine somebody running up and down a catwalk, manually trying to keep an ink tray filled in eight units as it's running 15,000 impressions an hour. It sounds like an “I Love Lucy” scene! I don't see how it would be physically possible.”
By automating ink management and replacing manual handling with cartridge-based replenishment, the iPro system allows press operators to stay focused on press performance and makeready efficiency. When ink levels do run low, the system triggers an alert, and a replacement cartridge can be installed in under 15 seconds.
Beyond workflow improvements, National Graphics has also seen a major reduction in ink waste. The company estimates a 90% decrease, driven by the system’s precision dispensing. “The amount of ink that we now waste is nominal,” explained Szanger. “It's almost nothing, because it’s dispensing a small bead as required and we're not washing up at the end of the night.”
The benefits extend beyond material savings. Reduced clean-up requirements and fewer interruptions during makeready have improved overall uptime and efficiency. “We have experienced almost no downtime that can be attributed to depletion of an ink tray,” Szanger confirmed. “We're very, very pleased with the Sentinel.” The reduction in manual ink handling also contributes to a cleaner, more controlled pressroom environment.
David Doucette, Director of Sales at Sentinel Ink Management, emphasized the broader operational impact of the system. “National Graphics is exactly the kind of forward-thinking operation Sentinel was designed for,” Doucette said. “When you combine higher press speeds and more print units, manual ink handling becomes a bottleneck. Sentinel removes that problem, helping operators stay locked in on quality production.”
With the iPro Ink Management System now in place, National Graphics has streamlined one of the most time-consuming aspects of press operation, aligning ink management with the speed of modern production. The result is a more efficient workflow that lets their crew stay focused on output rather than upkeep.