Note:  Special commentary from Andy Tribute below.

Heidelberg will be introducing the Speedmaster CX 102 on the occasion of IPEX 2010. This will mark the world premiere of a new printing press for industrial offset printing with a production speed of 16,500 sheets per hour.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be showcasing the Speedmaster CX 102 at IPEX 2010. This will mark the world premiere of a new printing press for industrial offset printing with a production speed of 16,500 sheets per hour. The new machine joins the ranks between the Speedmaster SM 102 and Speedmaster CD 102 with a maximum speed of 13,000 sph, respectively 15,000 sph, and the Speedmaster XL 105 with a maximum speed of 18,000 sph. This press puts the finishing touch to the Heidelberg 70 x 100 cm format and offers the perfect solution for every press speed and level of productivity. The Speedmaster CX 102 addresses both commercial and packaging printers and can be ordered as of IPEX 2010.

For the first time, the Speedmaster CX 102 will include high-performance components, which were previously reserved for the XL platform.

Consistent platform strategy and the best of two worlds
Although Heidelberg customers have long been able to equip tried-and-tested presses in the Speedmaster SM and CD 102 series with individual Speedmaster XL 105 components to boost productivity, Heidelberg has gone one step further by incorporating peak performance technology from the Speedmaster XL 105 into the design of the CX 102. In addition to familiar XL technologies such as the fully-automated Preset Plus Feeder and Delivery and dynamic sheet brake, high-performance components such as the gripper system and cylinder bearings, which were previously available exclusively for the XL platform, are now also incorporated for the first time. The construction of the printing units has also been reinforced to ensure smooth running at maximum speed and to prevent disruptive vibrations.

"With the introduction of the Speedmaster XL 105, we have successfully established a completely new performance class in the last few years. Right from the start, the Speedmaster SM 102 and CD 102 series have benefited from the achievements we made in XL development," explains Stephan Plenz, Member of the Heidelberg Management Board and responsible for the equipment sector. "Thanks to the host of innovations and new maximum speed of 16,500 sheets per hour, the Speedmaster CX 102 is an interesting option for anyone who is impressed with the XL technology and wants to combine it with the benefits of the CD 102 platform. The Speedmaster CD 102, CX 102 and XL 105 machines are enabling us to achieve a unique level of market coverage worldwide and to offer our customers an optimum combination of price and performance."

The new Speedmaster CX 102 has been designed in a modular way, enabling flexible, customized machine configurations. The press will be available in various configurations.

Versatile performance
The new Speedmaster CX 102 impresses with both its high productivity and excellent versatility. It can handle flimsy papers, stiff board and a wide range of plastic materials. Its modular design enables flexible, customized machine configurations. In fact, the Speedmaster CX 102 caters for all requirements - from conventional straight presses through to Duo configurations with a coating unit before the offset units. No matter whether customers opt for UV operation, mixed operation with conventional and UV inks or a dual-coating press, this solution offers a wide range of inline finishing options right through to cold foil application with FoilStar. These properties make this press the ideal choice for packaging printing, label printing and high-quality commercial jobs.

Fit for the future
A consistently high production speed only really pays off when the accompanying processes, such as make-ready, can also be performed efficiently. That is why the CX 102 can be integrated seamlessly into the Prinect workflow and delivers excellent ergonomic benefits and a wide range of automated functions, e.g. for plate and ink changes or sheet travel.

Press control takes place via the high-performance Prinect Press Center and Intellistart, the process-oriented operator guidance system. As with the XL 105, communication with all the machine components and auxiliaries takes place via the decentralized Sheetfed Control press control system. Prinect Inpress Control, the spectrophotometric inline measuring system, is key to significantly reducing makeready times and paper waste on the Speedmaster CX 102. The color and register are controlled in a closed loop on the fly and kept constant throughout the entire production run.

Complete portfolio and a unique level of market coverage worldwide: With the Speedmaster CD 102, CX 102 and XL 105 presses, Heidelberg offers the optimum combination of price and performance each for the customers' individual requirements.

High productivity and comprehensive environmental protection
Only a holistic approach can improve environmental performance. In addition to focusing environmental protection concepts on the printing process, Heidelberg also factors them into the development and production of its equipment. Improved energy efficiency, a long service life, low consumption of resources and auxiliary materials, and lower emissions all played a key role in the development of the Speedmaster CX 102 and the integrated Star peripherals.

The Speedmaster CX 102 is ideal for reduced-alcohol and alcohol-free printing, for instance, while peripherals such as the AirStar or CombiStar make a major contribution to boosting the press's energy efficiency. Inline color measuring systems such as Prinect Inpress Control reduce paper waste on average by 100 up to 150 sheets per print job and lower the level of CO2 emissions significantly.

What's more, Heidelberg offers customers the chance to help the environment further still by purchasing emission credits from climate protection projects. This carbon offsetting makes good the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the press production process.

WhatTheyThink contributing editor Andy Tribute comments on this news by Heidelberg:

The new Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 102 press will be released at the forthcoming Ipex show. This press is extending the line of Heidelberg presses in the 70 x 100 cm format where there are the Speedmaster SM 102 and the CD 102 presses. The Speedmaster 102 line of presses has been available for many years and it sits just below the higher performance and slightly larger format Speedmaster XL105 press family that was introduced at drupa in 2004. Since the introduction of the XL105 Heidelberg has reversed engineered some of the extra functionality of the XL platform into the SM 102 and CD 102 press platforms. These include the fully-automated Preset Plus Feeder and Delivery and dynamic sheet brake, and high-performance components such as the gripper system and cylinder bearings. The new Speedmaster CX 102 now goes further with higher performance up to an operational running speed of 16,500 impressions/hour. The Speedmaster CD102 has a speed of 15,000 impressions/hour whereas the Speedmaster XL105 has a performance of 18,000 impressions/hour. The Speedmaster CX 102 is a non-perfecting press and the press to be shown at Ipex will a five-color unit with coater and Inpress color control system. There is already a highly configured six-color Speedmaster CX 102 installed at the Heidelberg Wiesloch demo facility in Germany.

I spoke with Heidelberg about this and queried whether this really should have been called a Speedmaster XL 102. I was advised that while the press incorporated many of the XL platform technologies it was still using the Speedmaster 102 press platform. The main change over the CD 102 was in the use of new press side bearings to ensure smooth running at maximum speed without disruptive vibration.

The new Speedmaster CX 102 is designed for a number of types of user. It is an ideal complement to existing Speedmaster 102 users to utilize existing CtP technologies, as well as being a lower purchase cost option. In terms of performance it ranges from 6 – 15% less productive than a Speedmaster XL 105 at a cost slightly less than that percentage. The reason for the difference in performance of 6 – 15% depends upon press options. For example if the Prinect  Inpress inline color control is used then the higher speed of the XL 105 press optimizes the performance benefits of this platform.

I think that one of the main messages that comes from this announcement is that Heidelberg is maintaining development and support for the very widely used Speedmaster 102 presses providing an ongoing upgrade path for those users not needing to move up to the Speedmaster XL 105 press platform.