07/25/2007 -- Heidelberg was honored twice in this year's internationally renowned PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Awards.
The Speedmaster SM 52 with Anicolor inking unit technology and the Speedmaster XL 105 both received the coveted InterTech star. An independent panel of experts selected 11 innovative products from 31 nominations. Key evaluation criteria for the panel were environmental protection and the productivity gains that can be achieved with the innovative products.
"Recipients of this prestigious award not only have a major impact on the graphic communications industry, but are also consistently successful in the commercial marketplace," said Dr. Mark Bohan, Vice President, Research and Technology, PIA/GATF. "Award recipient technologies distinguished themselves with unique capabilities that offer real value for their respective markets."
Since the inauguration of the PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Awards in 1978, Heidelberg has been honored 24 times. This is also the second time the Speedmaster SM 52 platform has been recognized - back in 2004, the Speedmaster SM 52 with inline die-cutting unit received the renowned award.
Printing with Anicolor creates less waste and is more eco-friendly
Heidelberg introduced the Anicolor inking unit technology on a Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press at Ipex 06. Hardly any startup sheets are required - typically just 10 to 20, depending on the print motif. This means up to 90 percent less startup waste. The fact that no ink zone settings are required cuts makeready times by up to 40 percent, a saving that can increase press capacity by up to 25 percent or even more with the right kind of run structures. Results on presses already installed provide impressive proof of both the boost to productivity and the potential savings in terms of time and paper during startup.
This extends the benefits of offset printing to even the shortest of runs, providing significantly improved production margins. These benefits also still apply to longer runs. The major asset of the Speedmaster SM 52 with Anicolor inking unit is that, because the press works with the tried-and-tested Alcolor continuous dampening system, it uses commercially available printing plates. The more standardized the printing process - with Prinect Color Management for example - the better the strengths of Anicolor are exploited.
Anicolor makes the pressroom green. A recent study by Darmstadt Technical University looked at various categories such as global warming and the effects on acidification and eutrophication of water, comparing Anicolor with a conventional inking unit. The study found that Anicolor can cut the proportion of waste paper and thus the associated damaging environmental effects in all the categories assessed by around 75 percent.
Constant high performance with the Speedmaster XL 105 - the peak performance class
The properties of the Speedmaster XL 105 justify a new performance class that extends the existing 70x100 centimeter format product portfolio and went into series production in April 2005. The highlights of the press are a production speed of 18,000 sheets per hour, mark-free sheet travel, the effective Hycolor inking and dampening system and the new coating unit with MultiLoader system for rapid screen roller changes. The high level of automation accelerates and stabilizes the printing process, while the numerous preset functions minimize both workload and makeready times. The result is a productivity gain of around 30 percent compared to previous presses.
The Speedmaster XL 105 supports between four and ten colors and an optional coating unit. Since the end of 2006, a UV version with dual coating units has also been available. Whether used as a pure UV press or a hybrid press, there are no longer any limits to the range of surface finishing options that are supported.
With over 2,500 printing units supplied worldwide, the Speedmaster XL 105 is breaking new ground for industrial label, packaging and commercial printing.