Offset Bigger than Ever at Drupa

MANY INDUSTRY pundits were quick to label Drupa 2008 “The Digital Ink-jet Drupa,” given the technology previews shown by Kodak, HP, Océ, Screen and Fujifilm. Nonetheless, traditional sheetfed and web offset press manufacturers were just as diligent in showcasing their visions of the future.

The massive German trade show could just as easily have been called “The Large-format Press Drupa”; or “The Short-run, Fast Makeready Offset Press Drupa”; or even “The Value-added Press Drupa.”

These themes were very apparent from Heidelberg, which filled two entire halls, networked with its JDF-based Prinect workflow management system. Among Heidelberg’s several press debuts and upgrades, the centerpiece was a six-color, 64˝ Speedmaster XL 162 very-large-format (VLF) press with coater. The 15,000 sheet-per-hour (sph), “Peak Performance Class” press was geared toward the packaging and industrial printing segments.

Among other “Peak Performance” models, the 41˝ Speedmaster XL 105 was offered in a perfecting configuration, which can boost productivity by up to 40 percent at 15,000 sph.

In the 29˝ format, the new Speedmaster XL 75 replaces the Speedmaster CD 74. Capable of 18,000 sph, the XL 75 boasts a larger sheet format, the Prinect Press Center with Intelli-start operator guidance system (now available on all new Speedmasters), air presets for sheet travel, and a new delivery control panel with touchscreen and jog wheel. XL series presses are also now available with the new AutoPlate XL simultaneous plate-changing system.

Heidelberg also unveiled the 20˝ Speed-master SM 52 and 29˝ Speedmaster SM 74 series, which combine the former Printmaster PM 52/74 and Speedmaster SM 52/74 models. They are available in customized configurations, ranging from a standard-pile delivery to a fully automated press with high-pile delivery. The SM 52 version with Anicolor short inking unit technology now also supports spot colors.

MAN Roland Rebrands

Focusing much attention at Drupa on its name change and rebranding from “MAN Roland” to “manroland,” the press manufacturer debuted a new 20˝, 13,000-sph contender: the Roland 50, which incorporates technology from its XXL press platform. This includes double-size printing cylinders and transferters that allow printing on substrates ranging from 0.04-mil lightweight papers to 0.8-mil board stocks. Remote adjustment of substrate thickness is automatic, axial and radial register is via the plate cylinders, and—like with XXL presses—diagonal register works via the transferter.

Additional features such as easily cleanable, QuickChange surface ink fountains, automated plate changers, blanket washing devices and ColorPilot online color control make the press well-suited for short runs. With its RCI remote ink key control, the operator panel enables one-person operation.

Also in operation, a 29˝ Roland 500 incorporated an InlineFoiler Prindor cold foil transfer module, and a six-color Roland 700 HiPrint scored points with InlineInspector and InlineSorter for quality control, and QuickChange for fast makereadies.

A Makeready Champ

Over in Hall 16, KBA laid claim to being the world makeready champion at Drupa. An eight-color Rapida 106 perfector was shown printing 15 jobs, each of 520 good sheets, in just 59 minutes and 36 seconds. The run entailed 14 complete makereadies. The new 29x413⁄4˝, 18,000 sph press (15,000 sph in perfecting mode) features DriveTronic dedicated drives for presetting the feeder, improving sheet travel in the sidelay-free infeed and for the plate cylinders to enable simultaneous plate changes in under 60 seconds.

Also new, the Rapida 105 (which replaces the 105 universal) is available with up to seven printing units and a choice of coaters. Maximum speeds are 15,000 sph.

Komori made a surprise announcement at Drupa about its plan to invest 10 billion Yen to expand its factory in Tsukuba City, Japan. The facility will double in size to become the world’s largest press manufacturing facility.

This investment comes, in part, due to anticipated demand for Komori’s new Lithrone SX40 (LSX40) short-run press platform. Capable of speeds to 18,000 sph and accommodating a 41˝ sheet size, the six-color LSX40 with coater reduces makeready times by 50 percent.

It uses new KHS-AI “advanced intelligence” sheetfed technology, as well as a new automatic plate-changing system. All inking functions, and air and register presets, are controlled with the touch of a button. “Self-learning” capabilities preset the press based on substrate conditions. A Smart Sequence feature lets users select the most appropriate of three pre-programmable, automatic operations for press setup.

To illustrate value-added printing, a six-color Komori Lithrone SX629 was equipped with in-line foiling, in-line UV coating and in-line embossing. The six-up press, which handles up to a 24x291⁄2˝ sheet, can also include an in-line diecutting unit.

A 4/4 Lithrone S440SP Super Perfector demonstrated Komori’s new PQA-S Print Quality Assessment System. PQA-S inspects the running sheet with a CCD camera, creating a digital memory. Incorrect sheets are then identified on the PQA monitor.

Ryobi (distributed in the U.S. by xpedx) used Drupa to enter the full-size, 40˝ press market by showing its new five-color, 16,000 sph 1050-5 model. The new 1050 series, shipping in June 2009, combines an attractive price point with features such as double-diameter impression cylinders; moveable, shell-type skeleton transfer drums; optional in-line PQS Print Quality Control System; new PCS-L dual-monitor control system; and semi-automatic plate changers (auto plate changers optional). Available in two versions, the S format has a maximum 41.34x27.95˝ print area.

Demonstrating value-added printing, a five-color Ryobi 755 was equipped with an in-line UV casting and foiling system, which enables hologram effects and foil application from a single unit at speeds to 15,000 sph. As a technology demonstration, a five-color 525GX model featured a new LED UV curing system. Advantages include up to an 80 percent reduction in power consumption, elimination of ozone emissions and LED lamps that last up to 12 times longer.

Mitsubishi unveiled its Diamond V3000 series of sheetfed presses. A six-color Diamond V3000LX with coater, extended delivery, and UV and IR drying demonstrated a new approach to strike-through coating. The press featured the Diamond Color Navigator system for touchscreen color control.

An eight-color Diamond V3000R convertible perfector incorporated new double-diameter sheet reversing cylinders, along with a new belt-type delivery, to enable printing speeds to 16,200 sph.

Akiyama International displayed a MEGA Jprint 40 series sheetfed press with in-line double coaters. The new version of the JP440 model runs at 15,000 sph, while the JP540 hits speeds of 14,000 sph. Improvements include a new sucker head for control of paper feeding; a new mechanism to prevent sheet overruns; two additional transfer cylinders in the delivery section to suppress paper movement; and optional, automatic plate changers.

Sakurai showed three sheetfed offset presses. These included a five-color OL 596SDC with coater and IR drying system; a six-color OL 675SDWC, fitted with the wide option to handle 26x311⁄2˝ plates, and a coater and UV drying system; as well as five-color OL 566SD waterless press running technology supplied by Toray. IPG