Feature
Finally, having worked at the Toronto Star for 20 years, I
must mention a major Goss press enhancement project that
added full-colour panorama gatefold capabilities at The New
York Times. It involved retrofitting two Goss Colorliner
presses with a custom-configured Innotech Panorama Gate-
fold System. The new system now enables an additional
4-page-wide centerfold, a separate 8-page pullout section,
smaller gatefolds or coupon folds at one or both edges,
gatefolds in the cover page, or using the gate-folded section
as a wraparound on the main section. This is just one
example of Goss being a leader in this sector, as printed
newspapers struggle to remain competitive and
innovative.
Heidelberg Push to Stop technology
continues its success
Heidelberg continues to focus on “The Smart Printshop”
with its sheetfed presses and its Push to Stop technology.
Last year saw several new installations across North America
and more planned for 2018. Push to Stop (i.e. Navigated
Printing) requires seamless integration throughout the entire
production process and is ideal for its peak performance
presses (VLF, XL-106, XL 75 and CX-102). “Heidelberg
believes that its customers want to be shown how to improve
their businesses through process integration and stream-
lined produc tion, as opposed to ‘nuts and bolts’
conversations,” said Ray Fagan, PM/Sales Specialist for
Sheetfed, Digital & Postpress at Heidelberg Canada. “Hei-
delberg’s Push to Stop takes print manufacturing to an
entirely new level of productivity that was previously impos-
sible to achieve.”
A Speedmaster operating in Push to Stop mode is autono-
mous. It takes all job parameters into account, presets all
press functions, initiates the run, adjusts registration and
colour, and even starts the good-sheet counter while
inserting a tab into the pile – continuing to print unless the
operator steps in to interrupt. Jobs are autonomously
changed over without operator intervention. Using Prinect
as the key integration component that ties multiple produc-
tion processes together (i.e. MIS, workflow, ink-key data,
substrate specs and press settings), Push to Stop executes
the fastest changeover sequence possible. “With manufac-
turing this close to seamless, job throughput is dramatically
improved,” Fagan added.
Heidelberg’s Speedmaster XL 106 8P+L with X4 delivery, is
capable of utilizing any or all of three types of UV capabil-
ities: full UV, LE UV and LED UV. Its Customer Consulting
Team helps printers decide which type of UV best suits their
existing applications and operation. This hybrid also reaches
speeds up to 18,000 sph with makereadies under four min-
utes. Heidelberg’s new DryStar LED facilitates up to 25,000
production hours, and users often produce over 50 million
sheets per year!
Finally, industry marketing research firm Smithers-Pira, in its
report Real Production Capability of Pre-Owned Sheetfed
Litho Presses, analyzed the impression count of almost 450
pre-owned sheetfed litho presses under ten years old (not
new presses) from five major OEMs. Result? Heidelberg
presses were 24.1% more productive when comparing overall
impression count in all formats. In the case of the Speed-
master XL 105 and 106, the press was 66% more productive
and achieved 11% lower production costs per 1,000 sheets.
Heidelberg actually commissioned the report from Smithers-
Pira to confirm data that it had previously collected from the
industry. The need for an independent report became appar-
ent to Heidelberg when the data was reviewed.
KBA Rapida 106 LED-UV Press
KBA’s medium format Rapida presses have set benchmarks
in makeready times, print performance, new processes and
user-orientated configurations. Its Rapida 106 has been the
makeready world champion in medium format offset since
2008. With production speeds up to 20,000 sph, it’s also
the fastest press in its format class. Recently however, with
the rise of UV and LED-UV technology, KBA North America
is aggressively promoting its many benefits. For example,
its new KBA VariDry LED-UV is a low-energy drying technol-
ogy that delivers high print quality, the ability to stand out
on uncoated and offset stock with sharp dots and high c olour
brilliance, no fold breaks even with high-ink coverage, and
the elimination of printing powder. Also, its LED-UV con-
sumes only 20% of the energy needed by conventional UV
processes. KBA and its ink partners have successfully inte-
grated this instant cure-to-print technology as a modular,
interchangeable LED-UV curing platform into its renowned
Rapida press lines.
Led by its flagship Rapida 106 Press, now with LED UV tech-
nology, the OEM continues to be a market leader in large
format and packaging printing, while also offering digital
Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106-8-P
@graphicarts
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | February 2018 | 33