Westmont, Illinois — “Big Advantages” is the theme of MAN Roland’s exhibit at PRINT 05 (Booth 1245), and the press maker is bringing the slogan to life by demonstrating advanced models of its three most popular press lines: the ROLAND 900 XXL, the ROLAND 700 and the ROLAND 500. The 900 XXL will be the largest format press running at the show. MAN Roland will also reinforce its position as the worldwide leader in web press technology with virtual demonstrations of its PECOM/printnet operating and automation system. The innovation speeds makeready and production in the pressroom, as well as providing a digital backbone for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). Advances in technology are also headlining a separate display on service, parts and support. MAN Roland’s remote service diagnosis system, called TelePresence, is now available on sheetfed presses, after proving its worth as a time and money saver on the company’s web systems. Also: MAN Roland’s growing array of press productivity and application enhancements will be showcased. “We were the first to introduce XXL presses that integrate the latest automation and web presses that significantly increase productivity by considerably increasing format size,” says Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland Inc. “But our big advantages range beyond format size,” Rogivue continues. “They’re designed to help our customers stand out in the marketplace so they can be more competitive. These benefits have to do with increasing uptime, while maximizing flexibility so printers can go after additional market segments and increase the volume of projects. They also help our customers lower the cost of operation so they can widen their profit margins. We call them big advantages because they give our customers a considerable edge in the marketplace.” Extra, Extra Large Benefits Specifically, the big sheetfed advantages that will be explored in Chicago include: - MAN Roland’s expanded line of extra, extra large sheetfed presses — led by the ROLAND 900 XXL. - The 3,150 ways in which the 41-inch ROLAND 700 can be configured will be explored at MAN Roland’s Technology Center with working demonstrations of an eight-color perfecting 700 with coater and InlineSorter (second delivery). - The category-leading production rate and accelerated makeready capabilities of the 29-inch ROLAND 500 will also be demonstrated at the Technical Center The centerpiece of the exhibit is a 64-inch version of MAN Roland’s extra-extra large press — the ROLAND 900 XXL. It will be the biggest and most productive press operating at PRINT 05. Working in a six-color-with-coater configuration, the 900 XXL will demonstrate the advantages of combining high levels of automation with a super-sized press format. The press, which is also available in the larger 73-inch format, is the first ROLAND 900 XXL in the world to be equipped with a Maxson inline sheeter. The device lets printers benefit from the time- and money-saving advantages of using web stock. Audience members will be invited to participate in the 900 XXL’s makeready. The purpose: to reveal how simple it is to changeover the big press from job-to-job and let showgoers personally experience some of the system’s time-saving advantages. As part of the demonstrations, a multimedia presentation will transport showgoers to York, Pennsylvania, where a 73-inch 900 XXL is working at Strine Printing, the biggest sheetfed facility in the Northeast corridor. A commemorative XXL poster, printed by Strine, will be distributed throughout the exposition. Huge Gains in Other Sheetfed Formats Both virtual and actual visits to MAN Roland’s Chicago Technology Center are also on the agenda. At the show, via video, viewers will be able to see MAN Roland’s eight-up 41-inch ROLAND 700 and six-up ROLAND 500 at work with an eye toward how their PECOM/printnet systems automate the pressroom and connect it to the productive world of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Personal tours of MAN Roland’s Technology Center are available for show goers who sign up for VIP visits, which include complimentary limo transportation and refreshments. Reservations can be made by calling MAN Roland at 630.920.2035. They’ll see an eight-color ROLAND 700 perfector working through a production sequence that will encompass presetting the press with PECOM JobPilot, an automated plate change, an accelerated makeready and a high speed production run. The press is available in 3,150 different configurations, providing printers with the broadest array of customization possibilities. Visitors to the Technology Center will also witness a run by the industry’s fastest 29-inch press, the ROLAND 500, clocking in at 18,000 sph. The press will also show-off its ability to handle different substrates and stock thicknesses, an advantage that makes it well suited to printers who are looking to expand into new products and markets. Web Press Advantages Big advantages in web press productivity are the focus of an interactive display in the commercial web area of the MAN Roland exhibit. A fully operational PECOM/printnet control console will connect a virtual web pressroom to MAN Roland’s printnet digital backbone. The printnet jobplan module will be used to schedule virtual projects to optimize press utilization, while the printnet jobtrack module will provide real-time monitoring and manipulation of the workflow. Visitors will be able to run the printnet modules themselves at two demonstration kiosks in web press center, creating and manipulating jobs with a few well-placed mouse clicks. Also on display will be models of ROTOMAN and COLORMAN presses. “MAN Roland is the world leader in web press technology and in integrating production workflows,” Rogivue says. “This area of our exhibit will demonstrate how printers benefit when we combine those two strengths.” Big Benefits in Customer Support A separate area of the exhibit will be devoted to new benefits in customer support. MAN Roland has taken the best service and parts organization in the graphic arts, added more expertise, more automation, more possibilities, and more new technology. The big advantages include: - Remote repairs, via TelePresence, which can eliminate the need for service calls, along with the time and expense that goes with them. - Faster response times, to minimize downtime. - Service and maintenance plans, customized for the way each facility operates. - A host of innovative application and productivity enhancements that equip printers to do more for less with their MAN Roland presses. “Support is a major consideration in the press selection process,” notes Rogivue. “That’s why we’ve expanded our service and parts organization. It goes beyond just reacting to emergencies to preventing them from happening, while providing added-value ways printers can profit more from their presses. ‘Maximum Uptime’ is our slogan, through technology and through an effective support infrastructure.” Workflow Workouts A special workflow integration center will demonstrate how to network the ROLAND 900 XXL to the advantages of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. By going from terminal to terminal, visitors will be able to see the integration of the 900’s PECOM/printnet system, with a Management Information System (MIS) from EFI and a Creo front end. A very large format (VLF) Magnus platesetter from Creo will also be connected to the network to provide plates for the ROLAND 900 XXL. “MAN Roland pioneered the implementation of CIM in the graphic arts; now we’re demonstrating a simple way to put it to more profitable use,” Rogivue says. “Our PRINT 05 exhibit shows printers how they can take full advantage of CIM, while giving them an option to multiply the advantages of automation with our XXL formats. When they visit our exhibit, they will be surrounded by big advantages.”