Heidelberg at Ipex: Prinect Workflow Links All Processes

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be showcasing its range of solutions with "Connect for Success" as its theme at the Ipex, taking place in Birmingham, UK, April 4-11, 2006. On an exhibition space of over 5,100 square meters the company will be making the Prinect workflow the centerpiece of all the product demonstrations. The presentations will be adapted to the specific requirements of the "Commercial Print Solutions", "Industrial Print Solutions", and "Packaging Solutions" market segments. The latter are subject of a special solutions strategy.

All the solutions on display will have one theme in common: integration across the Prinect workflow. The Prinect Forum will be located at the center of the tradeshow booth and will focus in particular on Prinect Colour Solutions, which support end-to-end color management and comprehensive quality control from prepress right through to the press stage.

Brief overview Ipex 2006

- Process integration at the heart of all presentations
- New: Speedmaster CD 74 from Heidelberg now produces 18,000 sheets per hour
- Productivity boost from new zoneless inking unit
- Standing out from the competition with double-coat and cold-foil finishing
- New measuring devices for inline color measurement and sheet inspection
- New saddlestitcher for creative applications

Prinect workflow

World firsts: Prinect Integration System / Prinect Pressroom Manager
The Prinect Integration System enables centralized data management in a printshop using JDF (Job Definition Format), which allows all production processes in job management, prepress, press, and postpress to be fully integrated in a workflow management system.

The Prinect Pressroom Manager is the world’s first entirely JDF-based pressroom system capable of controlling and managing all of the data required in print production. This automates and enhances key areas of the workflow.

World premiere for Prinect Inpress Control: Inline colorimeter
Prinect Inpress Control is an inline colorimeter that measures color and register in the quality control strip on the fly. The new system significantly reduces press downtimes because there is no need to halt the machine during the measuring process and the register can be checked and adjusted online. It will also be available in the future for the Speedmaster CD 74 and Speedmaster XL 105 series. The market launch will be held in phases from the end of 2006 onwards.

Prinect Inspection Control: Measuring device for sheet inspection
Prinect Inspection Control is a measuring device that ensures reliable and efficient sheet inspection for the Speedmaster XL 105 and Speedmaster CD 102 presses from Heidelberg. Prinect Inspection Control is aimed mainly at packaging printers and uses two high-resolution RGB cameras to detect tiny printing errors on the paper sheet.

High waste and post-processing costs or rejection of the entire run by the customer can therefore be avoided. The market launch will be held in phases from the end of 2006 onwards.

Prinect Digital Print Manager
The Prinect Digital Print Manager enables Prinect users with both offset presses and digital print systems to take advantage of the flexibility offered by the fully integrated Prinect workflow for both printing processes. In order to link up as many digital print configurations as possible from leading manufacturers such as Xerox, HP Indigo and, in the next stage, Kodak NexPress, the Prinect Digital Print Manager communicates with the JDF- and JMF-compatible workflow components from these manufacturers.

Prinect Hybrid Screening: Combines benefits of AM and FM screening technologies
This new screening method combines the benefits of amplitude-modulated (AM) and frequency-modulated (FM) screening technologies. It enables higher screen resolutions and finer reproduction of detail in print, all of which enhances the overall print image quality. Prinect Hybrid Screening is available for the Suprasetter family of thermal platesetters, the Prosetter series with violet technology, and the Topsetter. Heidelberg now integrates all screening processes in the Prinect workflow.

Prinect update for Printready, Signa Station, and MetaDimension
New versions are now available for Prinect Printready System, Prinect Signa Station, and Prinect MetaDimension. Key to these latest developments is the even greater integration of the three solutions among themselves and their linkup with the new Prinect modules Prinect Integration System und Prinect Pressroom Manager. All three prepress solutions also incorporate additional functions and are easier to operate.

Prinect linkups to third-party MIS systems
Heidelberg will be showcasing six JDF/JMF-based linkups between management information systems (MIS) and the Prinect workflow at Ipex. Visitors to the Heidelberg booth can find out more about JDF integration of Prinect Prinance, and JDF-based integration of MIS providers Tharstern, Shuttleworth, Prism, and Optimus in the Prinect production workflow in the main Prinect Center. They will also have the chance to see another linkup to the Prinect workflow at the booth of MIS provider EFI.

Prepress

Suprasetter A105 makes it easier for printshops to use innovative thermal technology
Heidelberg is extending its range of thermal CtP Suprasetter platesetters by adding a new entry-level model, the Suprasetter A105. This gives printshops the opportunity to utilize the cost benefits of thermal platesetting and the modular concept of the Suprasetter range. The Suprasetter A105 is also a low-cost, high-quality backup solution for printshops with peak production times.

Sheetfed Offset

New: Speedmaster CD 74 from Heidelberg now produces 18,000 sheets per hour
The semi-automatic pile change system in the delivery and non-stop operation is unique in the 50 x 70 cm (19.69 x 27.56 in) format class and is a useful addition for packaging printing. Heidelberg will be unveiling the straight-mode version of its medium-format (50 x 70 cm) Speedmaster CD 74 press in a new performance class of 18,000 sheets per hour. This series previously produced 15,000 sph. A complete package featuring key innovations enables stable production at a speed of 18,000 sph, even in continuous operation, using a wide spectrum of printing stocks ranging from lightweight paper to board. The innovations include the newly developed suction head and the new automatic pile lifting control system, which are both located in the feeder.

New Anicolor inking unit for the Speedmaster SM 52
The Anicolor zoneless inking unit will be presented for the first time in a Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press. This unit will make it possible in future to produce even the shortest of runs using a standard offset workflow but with significantly better margins. Hardly any startup sheets are required – just 10 to 20 depending on the print motif. This means up to 90 percent less startup waste. The fact that no ink zone settings are required cuts makeready times by up to 40 percent. And the time saved increases press capacity by 25 percent.

With the innovative Anicolor inking unit, the strengths of offset printing are available even for the shortest of runs. Commercially available plates and inks are used because the press works with the tried-and-tested Alcolor continuous dampening system.

The Speedmaster CD 74-5+LY-P-5+L is taking productivity another step further. The coating options before and after sheet reversal get customers to the finishing stage much faster, saving up to 30% of the time needed. This new concept of accelerating the drying process by applying a protective coating during perfecting offers a further benefit. The design of the Speedmaster CD 74-5+LY-P-5+L means customers can also apply glossy coatings in defined quantities, thereby both perfecting and coating in a single pass.

Cold-foil finishing with the Speedmaster CD 74 and CD 102 from Heidelberg
Heidelberg has developed an innovative cold-foil process using tried-and-tested offset printing. The cold-foil module for the Speedmaster CD 74 and CD 102 series can apply stunning high-quality foil-based metallic finishes to all kinds of printing stock in grammages of 70 gsm to 400 gsm. Label, packaging, and commercial printers can use this technology to satisfy the market’s growing demand for high-quality surface finishes.

World premiere: Speedmaster SM 52 ten-color press
Heidelberg will be showcasing the world’s first ten-color press in 35 x 50 cm (13.78 x 19.68 in) format, the Speedmaster SM 52-10-P, and is therefore responding to the growing demand for even longer perfectors in this format. The company presented the Speedmaster SM 52-8-P, the first long perfector in A3 format, at drupa 2004.

With the Speedmaster SM 52 ten-color press, commercial printshops can further rationalize the production of items with special colors or coatings in a single pass. Varnishing is particularly beneficial, speeding up postpress operations and protecting products more effectively. As a result, the press is ideal for short runs with frequent job changes.

New CutStar CAN sheeter
The new CutStar CAN sheeter is available for the Speedmaster SM/CD 102, Speedmaster XL 105, and Speedmaster CD 74 series. CutStar CAN features high automation, enhanced operation, and a larger maximum reel diameter of 1.5 meters (4.92 feet). With the current reel diameter of 1.3 meters (4.26 feet), this means up to 33 percent more paper on a reel. Another new feature is the CAN linkup - "Controller Area Network". This enables formatting information to be transferred from the tried-and-tested Prinect CP2000 Center press control system to the CutStar.

Postpress

New Stitchmaster ST 450 saddlestitcher
The new Stitchmaster ST 450 saddlestitcher boasts high levels of automation, flexibility, and productivity. A whole range of applications are possible as the machine can be specifically adapted to a particular product. The Stitchmaster ST 450 features mobile feeders fitted with servo drives which can be positioned at any point on either side of the saddle chain. It combines high performance with reliable quality, offering a capacity of 14,000 cycles per hour.

New Eurobind 4000 perfect binder
The Eurobind 4000 is highly automated and produces up to 4,000 books an hour. The roller and nozzle systems for processing polyurethane or hot-melt adhesives are easy to change, providing maximum flexibility. This polyurethane technology allows straightforward and cost-effective production of high-quality brochures and books. The modular structure of the Eurobind 4000 means that it can be tailored to a customer’s exact requirements. Precise spine preparation and a consistently high level of glue application ensure a quality end product. The Eurobind 4000 can be integrated into the Prinect end-to-end workflow system.

Diana X 115/135 folder gluer
The Diana X 115/135 has a working width of 115 centimeter (4.53 inch) or 135 centimeter (5.31 inch) and features an impressive modular system that can be adapted to customer requirements and produces a wide range of carton types. The unit boasts a new safety and automation concept and integrated gluing and quality control. It processes board for folding cartons with grammages ranging from 200 to 900 gsm and N, F, E and B flute corrugated board. Depending on the application, it can reach speeds of up to 650 meters (2,132.5 feet) per minute. At these speeds it can process up to 200,000 cartons per hour.

The Diana X 115/135 is designed for packaging printers and postpress specialists. Four standard versions are available.