Page 32 - Print21 March-April 2020

Revolution in Print
Offset reaches out
While the digital revolution is lapping at the shores of the offset press world, and is transforming the way printers work, offset presses themselves are in constant development, and opening up opportunities.
No plate handling: the new generation of Heidelberg Speedmasters come with overhead plate load and unload
Heidelberg
eidelberg is introducing a
fully automatic system for printing plate logistics. The new overhead system provides fully automated plate changing
to the press, there is no manual loading, and it first removes the used plates - providing productivity gains to printers in small print runs. The system reduces the operator workload, and increases reliability, and reduces the risk of scratches on the plate.
Rainer Wolf, head of sheetfed product management at Heidelberg says there is
no point in just increasing the speed of
the printing press. “That would be like
being stuck in a traffic jam and expecting
a faster car to solve the problem,” he said. “Optimised, co-ordinated overall processes are such a more effective way of increasing productivity in the long term – they solve
the traffic jam and deliver continuous schedulable productivity at the highest level.”
Another development from the manufacturer is the release of the new generation of Speedmaster presses. These will go into production in April, and all sizes – small, medium, and large format – will be equipped with the new Push to Stop functionalities and a cloud connection as standard.
“These integrated measures will enable our customers to take the next step at drupa 2020 towards much higher productivity
and process reliability,” Wolf said. “Our forecast at drupa 2016 that the industry would double its productivity by 2026
is on its way to becoming a reality, and
Push to Stop is the key to this,” he said. “Interesting innovations in the area of
32 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2020
intelligent assistance systems and artificial intelligence will be an impressive display
of what is already possible today and where development will lead in the coming years.”
Rainer Hundsdörfer, Heidelberg CEO, said, “The recent innovation ranking
we received underlines our technology leadership when it comes to the digitisation of the printing industry. It also confirms we’re on the right track overall with the digital transformation of Heidelberg.”
The company was also recognised as one of the top 25 most innovative companies in Germany in the newspaper Nandelsblatt’s 2019 innovation ranking.
Hundsdörfer said, “As the innovation ranking quite clearly shows, the printing industry is anything but part of the old economy – it boasts a large number of creative minds who are succeeding in turning ideas into innovations that have the potential to safeguard the sector’s future in the digital world.”
Komori
Japanese press manufacturer Komori is initiating its sixth medium term management plan, and is prioritising growth in digital print.
However, Komori shipped more than 1,000 HUV equipped offset presses in 2019, they are the UV equipped machines that give instant drying and lower energy costs.
In the new plan, the company is investing heavily to monetise its digital printing products and also in the consumables related to these. It is preparing for rapid expansion of the B1 press thanks to increasing demand for shorter runs and variable data, reaching into carton printing.
The Impremia IS29 B2 inkjet press is now in full series production.
The company says it is well placed to combine digital and offset presses under a single banner: the KP-Connect automation environment. It says this will help ensure higher utilisation of the digital presses. Komori says it will engage with third party partners in prepress and post-press to make the most of these opportunities.
The existing core businesses areas
will have a focus through differentiated products for the packaging sector, to be seen at drupa this year. Improved cost competitiveness will come via machines manufactured in China, and by taking a modular approach to product development.
A long perfecting Lithrone GX40 was launched last year, and at drupa the company says it ‘will focus on using connected automation to maximise customer labour productivity’. “Presentations and exhibits will focus on how KP-Connect Pro IoT technology can link manufacturing workflows and further increase customer profits”, said president and CEO Satoshi Mochida.
Komori is looking both on-press and off- press, and to help improve the productivity of the latter it has just added the Apressia AT, a high-end auto pile turner, to the Apressia brand range. This range comprises post-processing machines such as cuttings, die cutters, and blanking systems. Komori launched the machine at a private show for Japanese and international customers at the company’s Tsukuba Plant.
At drupa Komori’s presentations and exhibits will focus on how its KP-Connect Pro internet-of-things technology can link workflows, and increase profits.