Definition of web press

rotary press that prints on a continuous roll of paper or other material called a web, rather than on individual sheets of cut paper. Web paper is less expensive than cut paper, and web presses are suited to any type of large-volume and/or high-speed printing. They are most commonly used to print newspapers, magazines, and catalogs. Unlike sheet-fed presses, web presses can also print on plastic or foil surfaces for package and label printing. Web presses may differ in the number of rolls that are held at one time and ready to be fed into the press, the speed with which the webs can be fed, how the webs are spliced together, and how web tension is controlled. After printing, the web may be cut into sheets, folded, or rewound for printing on the opposite side, or it may be combined with other webs for folding and cutting.