Too often taken for granted in this industry, OEMs continue to be leaders not just in innovation, but in partnering with printers to help them maximize revenues in just about every conceivable market segment – commercial offset, wide-format, packaging, newspapers and more. Their presses are sophisticated creations that constantly push the boundaries of technology. To highlight the benefits of all offset presses from leading OEM’s would require every page of this magazine and then some. So I’ve selected some of the more popular manufacturers available here in Canada and the U.S.
Heidelberg
Last year was very successful for Heidelberg Canada in terms of press orders. Led by its flagship press, the new Speedmaster XL 106, it is currently involved with six multi-configuration installations. In the 70 x 100 platform, depending on the job structure of your company, the XL 106 is capable of producing 50-75 million printed sheets annually, or change up to 90,000 plates, utilizing a long perfector (XL 106-8P for example). Complete press integration via JDF allows the Prinect Press Center to smoothly process jobs. Colour quality is maintained, make-readies are fast and run speeds can reach 18,000 impressions per hour. The XL 106 can handle long-run packaging projects or short runs in the commercial or web-to-print market. Integrated UV systems have also sparked an interest in the hi-end commercial and packaging markets. With new “drupa” innovations, the Speedmaster XL 106 is up to 30% more productive than its predecessor, the XL 105. For short runs, Heidelberg’s “mid-size” Speedmaster XL 75 is ideal thanks to automated plate changes, online colour and register and hands-off wash-up systems. This press can do complete job changes in 10 to 12 minutes. Stock range flexibility means any job that crosses your desk can be quoted. Special configurations for complex print concepts in packaging, cosmetics, hi-end label and commercial markets are easy for this machine. If your company resides in mid-size markets, or is in a downtown core where space is an issue and production needs still must be met, consider this press. It is available with 4-15 print and coating units, with conventional, UV and flexo concepts. Heidelberg Canada has reported good success with numerous installations across Canada.
This brand represents over 170 years of innovation and its impressive presses are well known throughout the industry for their flexibility, speed, dependability and durability both in the newspaper/magazine (Sunday Series) and packaging (Vpak 3000) sectors. Let’s look at the Goss Sunday 3000 web offset press with a 75-inch width, DigiRail digital inking technology, advanced Goss Ecoset dryer and dual folders. This gapless-blanket press is capable of producing more than three million magazine-size pages per hour. It can easily handle multiple product formats and page counts, including finished magazine-format products that are up to nine inches wide. The Ecoset dryer with integrated chill rolls includes innovative technology that reduces energy consumption considerably. Lower waste and faster job changes can double and sometimes even triple productivity. The PFF-3 former/folder is capable of producing more than 190,000 16-page signatures per hour in dual-delivery mode. The PCF-1 SQF high speed combination folder will produce a full range of product formats and features quarter folding and signature control. The precision of DigiRail inking improves presetting, cuts startup time and waste and makes it easier to sustain ink density and colour quality throughout the run. The proven technology of the Sunday Series of presses makes them ideal for any newspaper, magazine or insert applications.
The Chinese press manufacturer acquired the Japanese press manufacturer Shinohara (B3, B2 and B1 presses) in January of 2012 and the first Shinohara demo presses, made in Japan, were unveiled at drupa in May. These presses are robust, inexpensive workhorses even in the most demanding multi-shift operations. Shinohara first developed and patented the world-leading “7 o’clock” cylinder alignment that is now commonly used by other high-end manufacturers. The brand is already very popular in the U.S. with over 1,000 installs. The Shinohara 75 series and Hans Gronhi YK 1800E are two of the more popular models. The Shinohara 75VIH+C (29” 6-color+high pile+coating) features double-diameter impression cylinders that expand the range of stocks you can use (up to 0.6mm thickness). Inline coating, perfecting, automatic cleaning and other standard features increase productivity and profitability. Its colour control system, CIP3, SPIC (Shinohara Pre-Ink system) and SCCS (Shinohara Colour Control Station) reduces colour adjustment times while maintaining quality. The Hans-Gronhi YK 1800E (Toko model) is a one colour offset press ideal for letterhead, forms, envelopes and other quick-printing jobs. It has a computerized control system, digital control panel, double-sheet detection and suction paper feeding. Maximum paper size is 12” x 17” and output speed is 2,000-9,000 sph.
Let’s examine two of its more popular machines, the R700 DirectDrive and the R900 XXL 73” Perfector. The R700 DirectDrive is a multi-tasking machine and the world’s first offset litho press with an independent electronic drive on the plate cylinder and a patented double-clutch system. This dramatically reduces make-ready times, making it ideal for printers who require short-run productivity with maximum print quality. Manroland’s unique DirectDrive technology means plate changing can be carried out simultaneously on 2 to 12 printing units at the same time other make-ready functions are being performed – in other words “zero time” plate changing. The Roland 700 DirectDrive also comes with a range of manroland’s QuickChange modules as standard, including QuickChange Job, QuickChange Color and automated ink profiling. The R900 XXL 73” Perfector is billed as “the ultimate in one-pass productivity.” It’s world’s only Format 8 Perfector and the largest perfecting press in the world, built on the foundations of the highly successful Roland 900 XXL press. This highly productive press (64 A4-pages in a single pass and perfecting at 10,000 sph) is ideal for printers in the commercial and publications sectors that need to cost-effectively print books, catalogues and magazines as well as light carton in a two-sided production process. It has a maximum sheet size of 1310 x 1870 mm and prints substrates from .06 to 0.4 mm. With no second pass production required and efficient make-readies enhanced by InlineColorPilot (for measuring both sides of the sheet for colour consistency) as well as manroland’s Automatic Plate Loading (APL) system, this new press can increase productivity by up to 100% when compared to a standard, large-format perfecting press.
Presstek
Since it was founded in 1987, Presstek has helped to change the way offset printing is produced, particularly when it comes to environmentally sustainable solutions. Its digital offset technology has made it easier to meet the increasing demands for higher quality and faster turnaround while improving profit margins. Two of its most impressive presses are the 75DI and 52DI digital offset presses. The Presstek 75DI is a highly automated 16,000 sph 31” digital offset press available in four to ten colour configurations with optional inline aqueous coater. The 75DI supports 300 lpi and FM screening, the ability to go from digital file to printed sheet in six minutes (minimal make-ready waste) and a small environmental footprint. This press is ideally suited for the production of short-run (500 to 20,000) sheets and handles substrates from onionskin to 31-point board. In addition to commercial (including signage and presentation folders), it is ideal for labels and about 80% of folding carton work. The Presstek 52DI Digital Offset Press is a highly automated 52 cm (20.47”) landscape press that can produce up to 10,000 sph on substrates from onionskin to 20-point board. For commercial printers looking to produce cost-effective, high-quality short-run colour, this four colour press with its on-press chemistry-free platemaking, precise registration and 300 lpi printing is a great solution. It closes the production gap between toner digital printing and conventional offset. Its chemistry-free plates, waterless printing and minimal make-ready waste give it an extremely small environmental footprint. This makes it easy to install in almost any shop and offers additional value to more demanding customers.
Müller Martini
Müller Martini is a worldwide OEM that manufactures, markets and services a full range of post-press finishing equipment. But because of the unprecedented success of its finishing, bookbinding and mailroom systems, its equally impressive web offset technology (for newspapers and packaging) seems to have flown below the radar. So let’s take a look at its hugely popular VSOP (Variable Sleeve Offset Printing) Web Offset Press aimed at the packaging market. This technology offers a simple and fast format change for the offset printing process. Its patented sleeve technology makes it incredibly easy to change the printing length without changing the complete offset insert. The biggest advantage is that it is very cost effective, especially when many different repeat lengths are required. These machines allow printers to take advantage of the latest packaging trends – such as flexible packaging, labels (shrink-sleeve, self-adhesive, wet-glue, IML, wrap-around), folding carton and liquid packaging. The Müller Martini VSOP runs up to 365m/min. (1,200 ft./min.) with sizes ranging from 381mm-762mm (15”-30”) by using lightweight print sleeves. With its hybrid applications and offset printing technology, the machine offers an excellent range of other printing processes including flexo, screen, gravure and digital printing as well as finishing processes such as laminating. The press is available with electron beam and UV as well as hot air drying technologies that allow maximum flexibility in the printing process.
KBA
Selecting which KBA press to highlight from this German manufacturer was like choosing which Mozart opera is the best. Its presses are sophisticated, flexible and exceedingly fast. Well known sheetfed offset presses and commercial web offset presses include names like Rapida, Genius, Cortina and Commander. The company continues to experience exceptional success in Europe, Asia, the U.S., indeed all over the world. This year KBA will be looking to increase installations here in Canada. You might be familiar with KBA’s aptly named Rapida 106, the make-ready world champion from drupa 2008 (which can now pump out 20,000 sph), but for this feature, let’s check out the Rapida 145 Sheetfed Offset Press for large format. An optional high-speed package gives the 41.7” x 57” press a maximum output of 17,000 sph and 15,000 sph in perfecting mode. It has many of the features of the Rapida 106, but one of the more unique is its automatic feeder head height adjustment. If the pile is not absolutely flat and instead slopes down towards the edges, any height differences are automatically compensated for by the feeder head. If needed, the height control can also be switched to front-edge sensing without interrupting production. In short, five intelligent sheet-monitoring systems provide for safe passage of the sheets into this large-format press. Also, the Rapida 145 can wash the inking rollers, blankets and impression cylinders at the same time during plate changing. By the way, simultaneous plate changes in all the printing units only takes about 60 seconds. All these enhancements result in a substantial production output increase — around 50% higher than similar competitive presses.
