Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will start offering the new Speedmaster CD 102 in April this year. Equipped with the Preset Plus Delivery and a comprehensive package of automation components, it boosts productivity by around ten percent on the previous series, making it more efficient than ever. With the best price-performance ratio in its performance class, this all-round press is aimed at both commercial and packaging printers who require maximum flexibility in the substrates they use. It also impresses with its high energy efficiency thanks to innovative drive and dryer technology, thus enabling eco-friendly printing. 

Attractive model configurations offer solutions for commercial and packaging printers 
The new Speedmaster CD 102 is aimed at customers that produce traditional advertising materials, packaging or labels. The target group is in both emerging markets and industrialized countries, with the first orders having already been received from China, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. "The Speedmaster CD 102 has gained an outstanding reputation on the market over many years thanks to its productivity and value retention and has undergone continuous development by Heidelberg," explains Stephan Plenz, Member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. "With over 50,000 printing units produced, it is the most successful straight-printing press in the 70 x 100 centimeter (27.56 x 39.37 inch) format. We're taking this success story another step forward and have enhanced the new Speedmaster CD 102 with innovative technology, adapting it to our customers' changing productivity needs. To this end, we conducted extensive discussions with existing users beforehand and, by offering attractively equipped model configurations, we can now deliver exactly what is needed for cost-effective production in this market segment." 

Flexible, productive, and reliable 
The new Speedmaster CD 102 is incredibly flexible. The range of substrates extends from thin, 0.03 millimeter (0.0012 inch) paper to cardboard up to 1.0 millimeter (0.039 inch) thick. Depending on requirements, models are available with coating unit, UV configuration, automatic washup devices, and the Preset Plus Delivery with various extension modules and dryer systems. For example, the DryStar Combination Carton with its two slide-in modules for infrared/hot air and hot air has been developed specifically to meet the needs of cardboard printing. 

Format and air settings are made automatically with the Preset Plus Delivery using a range of data entered at the factory. The printer controls delivery operation via a touchscreen control display with jogwheel. 

The extensive equipment supplied as standard comprises the Preset Plus Feeder and Preset Plus Delivery, AutoPlate plate changer, and Prinect Press Center Compact press control station. Color management is controlled using Prinect Easy Control. The new Speedmaster CD 102 can be integrated fully into the Prinect workflow and can also be connected to the Prinect Image Control color measuring and control system. 

Overall, the press boasts simple operation and excellent reliability thanks to optimum and, above all, stable print quality throughout the run. Its high net productivity makes it a safe investment with a short payback period. "Large numbers of customers have already achieved runs of over 30 million sheets a year with the previous Speedmaster CD 102. This technology transfer will make the new Speedmaster CD 102 even more productive," explains Plenz. 

The new Speedmaster CD 102 is being produced at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site and, for the Asian market, at the Qingpu site near Shanghai. In Asia in particular, the Speedmaster CD 102 is the best-selling press in the 70 x 100 centimeter (27.56 x 39.37 inch) format. 

"The new Speedmaster CD 102 makes our offering in the 70 x 100 centimeter format even more attractive. We have the ideal press in our portfolio to meet all productivity and surface finishing requirements," concludes Plenz.