Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) unveiled the world premiere of the Speedmaster XL 75 with Anicolor inking unit technology at drupa 2012 in Düsseldorf. Anicolor technology in the 35 x 50 cm (13.78 x 19.69 in) format has been enjoying market success since 2006. More than 1,000 printing units have been installed worldwide and this innovation is now being extended to the 50 x 70 cm (19.69 x 27.56 in) format. Heidelberg is now also offering Anicolor inking unit technology on the high-performance Speedmaster XL 75 platform. Compared to a press with conventional inking unit, the benefits of Anicolor can be summed up as "90-50-50", that is to say Anicolor inking unit technology results in 90 percent less paper waste, 50 percent shorter makeready times, and 50 percent higher productivity. Thanks to extremely fast and stable inking-up, OK sheets are often achieved after just ten sheets. This makes the Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor a particularly good option for customers who are looking to achieve cost-efficient production of short and very short runs in the 50 x 70 cm format for commercial and packaging printing applications. It is also ideal for web-to-print applications with gang forms that require simple standardization and consistently high quality.
The machine will initially be offered as a straight-printing press with up to six inking units - with or without coating unit and with a print speed of up to 15,000 sheets per hour - and will be available from the end of 2013. Presses with a perfecting device and other configurations will follow.
The machine will initially be offered as a straight-printing press with up to six inking units - with or without coating unit and with a print speed of up to 15,000 sheets per hour - and will be available from the end of 2013. Presses with a perfecting device and other configurations will follow.
"Following the positive experiences with the Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor, the next logical step is to give our customers a competitive edge by extending this innovative technology to the next format up," says Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. "With the larger format, our customers will now also have the opportunity to use this technology to their advantage in other applications while also making a long-term contribution to environmental protection," he adds.
Combining a Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor with Linoprint digital printing systems and the Prinect workflow enables the benefits of offset and digital printing to be put to the best possible use. It creates the most cost-efficient and eco-friendly solution in the 50 × 70 cm format for innovative media service providers.
"Together with the Linoprint C models, our Speedmaster presses with Anicolor inking unit technology represent the optimum solution for innovative print products manufactured in short and very short runs," stresses Plenz.
Heidelberg will be exhibiting a Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor five-color press with coating unit in Hall 1 at drupa as a response to the green printing (HEI Eco) and lean production (HEI Productivity) market trends. It will be printing high-grammage postcards along with four- and five-color posters - the fifth color being the spot color metallic silver - and will benefit from very fast job changes. The combination of automated processes and optimized materials from the Saphira range will deliver standardized, lean production.
Consistently high offset printing quality and extremely straightforward operation - perfect for short runs and web-to-print
Anicolor inking unit technology from Heidelberg has been available since 2006. The zoneless short inking unit offers key benefits for commercial and packaging printing, with 90 percent less paper waste and 50 percent shorter makeready times than in conventional offset printing. The absence of ink zones makes for very straightforward operation without spending a lot of time on settings, as uniform amounts of ink are always transferred. A format-size engraved screen roller and a format-size inking form roller ensure an extremely short ink flow and exceptionally stable ink transfer for top print quality from sheet to sheet and job to job. This makes Anicolor ideal for standardized top-quality printing.
All these benefits will be further enhanced by the platform and technical features of the Speedmaster XL 75. Its fully automated sheet travel devices maximize productivity - from the Preset Plus Feeder and the Air Transfer System in the printing units to the Preset Plus Delivery. Fully automatic, simultaneous plate changing with AutoPlate XL offers the optimum conditions for fast job changes with short and very short runs. What's more, the Speedmaster XL 75 also features an impressive new Peak Performance Class design, faster washup programs, and the latest DryStar dryer technology with round nozzles for even better energy efficiency. This is all rounded off by the new, ergonomic operating concept, including a feeder control panel with glass touchscreen. The Speedmaster XL 75 is thus systematically geared to fast, lean production.
Users can benefit from further process optimization by integrating the machine into the Prinect print shop workflow and by using optimized consumables. Saphira Anicolor inks from Heidelberg are subject to very strict quality controls in line with the process standard for offset printing and are continuously being tested and optimized for use in Anicolor presses.
Most eco-friendly press for short runs
Paper is the biggest factor in a print product's carbon footprint. The Anicolor inking unit minimizes paper waste, cutting it by up to 90 percent, to ensure the greenest possible printing process.
What's more, the Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor platform does not simply set technological standards with its high productivity. Its excellent energy and resource efficiency also make it the most environmentally friendly press in its class. A measuring device can be used to measure and display the machine's energy efficiency per 1,000 sheets during production if the customer so wishes. This allows operators to run the press with exceptional energy efficiency. And like all other Heidelberg presses, the Speedmaster XL 75 can be supplied with carbon offsetting.