October 11, 2002 -- McCormick Place, Chicago — The Roland 500 takes the extended 29" sheetfed format (23.23" x 29.13" or six-up) to the next level of technology and functionality, expanding market opportunities for printers who run it. A six-color model with in-line coating is demonstrating the press’s business-building capabilities at Graph Expo, in the North American premiere of the Roland 500. The system sets new production standards, running at an industry-leading 18,000 sheets per hour to help half-size printers compete against 40" equipment. The 500 also helps users grow their production and marketing possibilities beyond the traditional limits of half size machines. It can handle substrates up to 1 mm (40pt.) thick. That equips the Roland 500 for areas that range beyond commercial printing. It can tackle carton production, label production, in mold label (IML) production, blister packaging, book production, publication printing, and plastic printing. The 500 can even print on microflute and corrugated, without options or accessories. For additional production flexibility, the Roland 500 offers an in-line Anilox coating system, along with fully integrated drying systems to handle aqueous, UV or combination coatings. All of these enhancements will be demonstrated at Graph Expo. In-line finishing is another option, equipping the Roland 500 to do die cutting and embossing. The Roland 500 also delivers the highest level of automation in its class. MAN Roland’s PECOM automation and operating system equips the press for networked printing, meaning it can be linked to prepress, postpress and MIS systems to facilitate Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). Its 3/4 automatic Power Plate Loading (PPL) system further streamlines make-readies beyond the tradition of a simple pneumatic plate clamp. Among its other achievements, the Roland 500 sets new standards for print quality. It brings to the half size format all of the integrated quality control features that are normally only available on 40" presses, helping Roland 500 users to compete head to head with larger machines. A new 16-roller ink train was designed just for this press line. It reacts quickly to color adjustments and its quality control functions can be activated from the PECOM console or remotely. In fact, the 500’s new generation inking/dampening units provide 100% automation of all inking and quality control functions. Fully integrated computer controlled inking is an option, provided by PrepressLink, which utilizes the CIP-4 protocol PPF to set ink zones from prepress data. Standard features on the 500’s printing units include: - Remote and zero setting of RCI Linear ink slides. - Automatic ink train separation during a press stop - Programmable ductor cycle - Remote ink train re-direction - Low Coverage Stabilization (LCS) - Reversing ink fountain roller timing - Speed compensated inking via the ductor sweep - Direct Delta dampening - Automatic resetting of rear plateclamp after a fan-out correction is made The fast reacting inking units can also be equipped with an optional Quickstart program, which further reduces the interval between runs while reducing start-up waste. There are literally dozens of innovations integrated into the Roland 500 that make its extraordinary performance possible, more than can be discussed in this report. Its feeder, for example, features a low slopping, true vacuum feedboard designed to handle the wide variety of substrates the ROLAND 500 can work with, without reducing production speed. To facilitate smooth injection of sheets into the press, the ROLAND 500‘s feeder incorporates combination of mechanical refinements that includes a swing arm gripper that works from below, and an infeed drum that has the same cylinder center as the transferters. To achieve high speeds and stock flexibility the Roland 500 features a linear sheet path. The infeed drum, all impression cylinders, mark-free transferters and even the delivery drum are positioned in a straight line. We have in effect eliminated the old pear shape sheet transfer. This is important for all stock types, because it reduces sheet travel problems that result in marking or the need to run at lower production speed. The paper path is further refined with an integrated Air Track system that helps ensure no wet side contact all the way through to the new generation AirGlide delivery which takes the sheet to the delivery stack along a gentle curve – eliminating the traditional goose neck delivery. There are literally dozens of innovations integrated into the Roland 500 that make its extraordinary performance possible, more than can be discussed in this report. Its feeder, for example, features a low slopping, true vacuum feedboard designed to handle the wide variety of substrates the ROLAND 500 can work with, without reducing production speed. To facilitate smooth injection of sheets into the press, the ROLAND 500‘s feeder incorporates combination of mechanical refinements that includes a swing arm gripper that works from below, and an infeed drum that has the same cylinder center as the transferters. To achieve high speeds and stock flexibility the Roland 500 features a linear sheet path. The infeed drum, all impression cylinders, mark-free transferters and even the delivery drum are positioned in a straight line. We have in effect eliminated the old pear shape sheet transfer. This is important for all stock types, because it reduces sheet travel problems that result in marking or the need to run at lower production speed. The paper path is further refined with an integrated Air Track system that helps ensure no wet side contact all the way through to the new generation AirGlide delivery which takes the sheet to the delivery stack along a gentle curve – eliminating the traditional goose neck delivery. The Roland 500 can be configured with 2 to 8 printing units, with or without in-line coating. More information can be obtained by calling 630.920.2000 or visiting www.manroland.com.