KENNESAW, Ga., September 27, 2004 – At Graph Expo/Converting Expo 2004, Heidelberg USA will unveil the new Dymatrix 106 CSB die cutter to the North American market. CSB stands for cutting, striping and blanking. The high-speed system, built to deliver first-class die cutting and embossing, offers high productivity and a range of applications. The Dymatrix 106 is able to handle a broad spectrum of materials, including paper from 80 gsm (4 pt.), solid board up to 2,000 gsm (60 pt.) and corrugated board of up to 4 mm (160 pt.) thickness at processing speeds of up to 9,000 sheets an hour. In addition, the system is able to work with special materials such as aluminum or plastic foil. The flexibility of the Dymatrix 106 makes it particularly useful for packaging and label printers and finishing specialists who stay ahead of their competitors by offering a whole raft of applications. For example, the die cutter is built for a maximum sheet size of 76 x 106 cm (29.92" x 41.73"), making it the ideal accompaniment to Heidelberg’s largest printing machine (75 x 105 cm format). However, its modular structure enables the user to optionally increase the sheet size to 82 x 113 cm (32.28" x 44.49") format. Most importantly, a newly developed pile change system results in pallets with improved pile accuracy, which ensures consistent quality and reliable finishing in the subsequent process steps. A further advantage lies in the reduced changeover time, which ultimately leads to higher productivity. "The quality of finishing work has a decisive impact on the final product," said Rob Kuehl, director postpress. “With the new Dymatrix, which boasts everything from an innovative sheet feeder to a fully automatic pallet change-over system, Heidelberg is able to offer the packaging sector a sophisticated solution that delivers consistent production quality and high productivity at high speeds.” Key features include: • Gripper: results in better quality and less wear. The gripper assemblies are made of lightweight carbon fiber for vibration-free sheet transport and precise die cutting. The resulting smaller mass also minimizes wear in the machine • Horizontal sheet transport: from the feed station through to delivery there is no vertical movement of the sheet travel, resulting in high product quality with fewer and smaller nicks and at the same time enables higher production speeds. • Patented register system: features extremely accurate register even at top speeds. The register system is integrated not only into the feed and cutting stations, but into the stripping and blank separating stations as well. As a result, the gripper assemblies are precisely aligned in all stations without any jolts or vibration • Non-stop feeder: equipped with a manually operated nonstop system. A fully automatic nonstop system also is available as an option • Cutting unit and gears: equipped with a cutting unit of sturdy design with separate gear housing. This prevents heat from the gears being transmitted to the cutting unit, producing consistent die cutting quality, without the need to readjust cutting pressure during production • Strippers: register system and double-cam drives in the stripping station allow even the smallest pieces of waste to be stripped longitudinally and transversely • Delivery: a sheet braking system, a low sheet drop height, cam-controlled gripper opener and sheet extractor increase the performance of the overall machine “All of these features make a significant contribution to cutting the cost of makeready and achieving improved workflow,” Kuehl said. “The Dymatrix offers the complete package when it comes to high-speed and high-volume die-cutting systems.” In addition, the Dymatrix 106 offers operator-friendliness through the large, easy-glide window openings on all stations of the system. These windows allow tool frames, chases, and the cutting plate to be moved easily in and out of the machine on plastic-coated or roller-mounted guides. The controls have been ergonomically optimized and are clearly arranged on all stations for easy operation, and all operating surfaces employ Heidelberg’s tried and tested touch screen display and graphical user interface.