Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be presenting the new Stitchmaster ST 500 saddlestitcher at drupa 2012 in Dusseldorf. Its individual drive technology, centralized control system, and wide range of feeder models make it suitable for rapid, all-purpose use in industrial saddlestitching. Short runs, time-critical jobs, products of varying complexity, numerous format changes, and long runs in monitored high quality are all possible with the Stitchmaster ST 500, providing flexibility while nevertheless ensuring cost-effectiveness. Extensive automation options for the feeder, trimmer, stitcher, and compensating stacker cut makeready times and enable extremely efficient, high-output production. The Stitchmaster ST 500 has a mechanical capacity of up to 13,000 cycles an hour and is ideally equipped to handle all commercial print shop and bookbinder needs. 

The Stitchmaster ST 500 makes it possible for the first time to collate stack-signature brochures in preparation for adhesive binding. New options such as the third step in the trimmer allow products to be created with added value in just a single pass where previously two or more steps were required. 

The new Stitchmaster ST 500 saddlestitcher is being presented at drupa in Hall 1 in the HEI Productivity area, where Heidelberg is showing solutions for lean production and maximum productivity. The Stitchmaster ST 500 will be available from January 2013. 

"Market demands for industrial saddlestitching are strict. It is therefore important to meet a large number of needs while delivering cost-effective and high-quality products," explains Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. "With the new Stitchmaster ST 500, users are ideally equipped to satisfy customers' every need. They are able to act quickly and take a flexible, needs-based approach to the end customer's requirements, thus enabling themselves to stand out from the competition," he adds. 

The Stitchmaster ST 500 processes untrimmed formats with spine lengths of up to 500 mm (19.69 in) and widths of up to 330 mm (12.99 in) and trimmed formats with spine lengths of up to 475 mm (18.70 in) and widths of up to 315 mm (12.40 in). The smallest format, which is possible using an add-on, is 55 x 120 mm (2.17 x 4.72 in) in single-upmode. The maximum product thickness is 12 mm (0.47 in). This enables cost-effective production of highly standardized products and customer-specific special applications.

Optional collating function for adhesive binding now possible with a saddlestitcher 
The Stitchmaster ST 500 is the first machine that enables stack-signature brochures to be collated for adhesive binding, thus opening up a completely new range of applications for saddlestitchers. The signatures are stacked on top of each other in closed format and output as a book block for subsequent adhesive binding. During this process, the signatures are deposited separately in consecutive saddle chain segments and can then be collated as a stack-signature brochure in the missing sheet delivery, the stream delivery, or the compensating stacker. 

This innovation enables SMEs in particular to significantly expand their portfolios beyond pure saddlestitching without making additional investments in gathering machines. Using the all-purpose Stitchmaster ST 500 as a collating solution for adhesive binding ensures much more effective use of current investments in saddlestitchers and adhesive binders and boosts cost efficiency in finishing. 

New options enable creative applications and boost added value in finishing 
A third carrier bar has been added to the knife carrier in the trimmer for an additional processing step. The Stitchmaster ST 500 thus opens up new applications - for example, tools for the central trim and hole punching can be used at the same time or the central trim can be performed with two parting cuts, regardless of the product thicknesses, for two-ups with hole punching for instance. A variety of tools enables customized print products such as bound calendars with calendar perforation, file hole punching, and multiple-ups with flexible parting cuts.

Integrated quality control ensures reliable and stable production 
The Stitchmaster ST 500 is designed to deliver reliability, productivity, and optimum quality. Various quality controls are integrated, ensuring high-quality production. Chromium-plated sheet guiding elements in the feeder area reduce the risk of marking and offer optimum quality from the outset. Precise sheet travel and lateral alignment by means of lateral joggers in the trimmer ensure trimming is exact. 

A further strength of the Stitchmaster ST 500 is the user-friendly control via a touchscreen, with the makeready assistant guiding users through all stages of the process. This cuts makeready times, enables straightforward actual costing of individual jobs, and plays a key role in ensuring production gets underway quickly and cost-effectively. 

Tried-and-tested saddlestitcher series meets every need 
With the Stitchmaster ST 500 Heidelberg is expanding its saddlestitcher range for high-performance and creative applications. The Stitchmaster ST 100 opens the way for professional saddlestitching. Featuring a maximum of 9,000 cycles per hour and covering product formats up to A4+, it is ideal as a basic model for bookbinders and print shops looking to build up their saddlestitching capacity. The Stitchmaster ST 100 is particularly well suited to short and medium-sized print runs with frequent format changes. It is extremely compact and space-saving. Makeready times when changing over to another format are kept to a minimum. 

The Stitchmaster ST 350 saddlestitcher, presented by Heidelberg at drupa 2004, is designed for a wide range of uses in the performance range up to 12,000 cycles per hour. The machine delivers high quality, reliability, and ease-of-use. In addition, it can be integrated into the workflow using JDF. This makes the Stitchmaster ST 350 a cost-effective, flexible alternative for industrial printers and finishing specialists producing, for example, high-gloss brochures for industrial and commercial applications. 

The Stitchmaster ST 450 is the most productive and versatile saddlestitcher in its performance class. Its high productivity delivers greater net output and cost-effectiveness for all runs. Its extensive automation enables profitable production, even with short runs and frequent job changes, thanks to short makeready times. And its mobile feeders offer unique flexibility, enabling a rapid response to market demands with a particularly wide range of applications.