The rlc | packaging group has installed a Speedmaster XL 106-9-LYYLYY-1 from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) at its Aachen site. The press is equipped with ten inking units, two coating units, and four intermediate units with ultramodern IR, hot-air, and UV dryer technology and an extended delivery. It is rlc's eleventh unit from Heidelberg. By investing in the special configuration, rlc is in particular strengthening its strategic premium areas of business, that is to say confectionery and beauty packaging. Since mid-August, the system supplier for packaging solutions has, as planned, been using the new press for extremely efficient and sustainable production of exclusive premium packaging for manufacturers of branded goods at its Aachen site, formerly Aug. Heinrigs Druck + Verpackung GmbH & Co. KG. In the future, the press will above all be used for high-quality beauty and fine fragrance packaging. 

"This press enables us to meet even the most challenging surface finishing requirements in the beauty and fine fragrance segment and develop completely new finishing solutions for our customers," says rlc management spokesman Hans-Christian Bestehorn. "We are proud to say that excellent cooperation with the experts form Heidelberg has produced one of Europe's most complex and flexible presses for beauty packaging. What's more, the new Speedmaster XL 106 makes our production far more efficient," he adds. 

Customized configuration for optimum solutions 
The Speedmaster XL 106 was developed in close collaboration with the customizing experts at Heidelberg to meet rlc's specific application requirements. "The result is a press that can create unique products. With this unusual configuration, we have succeeded in satisfying rlc's requirement for a variety of inline surface finishing options combined with top print quality," says Stephan Plenz, Member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. 

Thanks to its excellent energy efficiency, the Speedmaster XL 106 is also one of the most environmentally friendly presses in its class. Heat is recovered from the exhaust air of the DryStar Combination dryers and can be reused for the drying process. "The press meets our high sustainability standards and enables us to combine impressive surface finishes with resource-saving processes," says Bestehorn. 

Special configuration for varied surface finishing options 
"The Speedmaster XL 106 boasts one of the highest performance levels of any press on the market for packaging printers like rlc," says Plenz. The press configuration with complete UV equipment delivers maximum finishing flexibility and, depending on the application, produces up to 18,000 sheets per hour. The inline technology and downstream printing unit support unusual coating effects, producing the finest of screen vignettes and matt/gloss textures. 

Control systems deliver reproducible quality 
The Prinect Inpress Control color measuring system integrated in the press monitors the entire printing process so as to ensure excellent color quality and consistency. The system measures and records process colors, spot colors, and register in the print control strip. The Prinect Inspection Control inline sheet inspection system automatically detects and reports production errors at any speed for maximum reliability in production. "The integrated quality control systems enable operators to make the most of the press's high performance levels. What's more, we can ensure reproducibly high quality to meet even our most discerning customers' requirements," says Holger Müller, Plant Manager at rlc in Aachen. 

Central and efficient control with Prinect 
The Prinect workflow from Heidelberg networks all production operations at the Aachen plant. Prinect Integration Manager controls all production areas - from prepress and press to postpress. Prinect Pressroom Manager is the pressroom's dedicated central information and control system. It links all presses, for example with prepress and the management information system (MIS). Ink presetting values are calculated automatically and press-specific preset values are provided. Prinect Analyze Point automatically subjects the production and quality measurement data recorded by Prinect Inpress Control to a detailed evaluation. This paves the way for efficient use of existing optimization potential. The next step in the development process is linking the Prinect system to SAP.