(May 21, 2008) A new six-color Speedmaster CD 74 UV and a Suprasetter A74 from Heidelberg were recently installed at the newly refurbished marks-3zet waterless printing center in Mülheim a. d. Ruhr in Germany. As a result, marks-3zet can now demonstrate all kinds of jobs - from platesetting to waterless UV printing. A large number of the demonstration jobs at the waterless printing center will relate to printing plastic cards and foils because many print shops in this segment prefer waterless offset printing. marks-3zet is something of a specialist when it comes to this method of printing. It invented and is the world market leader for calibrated underpacking sheets, supplies self-adhesive underlay foils with color schemes, and also sells waterless printing plates from world market leader Toray.

For over 25 years, marks-3zet has been committed to waterless offset printing. The new presses from Heidelberg demonstrate the advantages of this method to impressive effect, with photorealistic print quality thanks to sharper edges and the use of fine screens. In addition, waterless offset printing helps the environment because there is no ink/water balance to adjust and therefore less paper waste. There are no air emissions resulting from dampening solution and alcohol either. What’s more, quick ink drying enables rapid finishing.

marks-3zet and Heidelberg are members of the European Waterless Printing Association and also see the new facility as a competence center for waterless offset printing. For Heidelberg, this partnership is a further aspect of its commitment to plastics and card printing. Six months ago, Heidelberg provided equipment for the showroom of Mühlbauer in Roding. Mühlbauer is the leading supplier of finishing and security equipment for plastic card production. A Speedmaster SM 52 UV with iris printing device adds the finishing touch to integrated workflows for plastic card manufacturers.

Waterless offset printing at drupa 2008 with the Speedmaster XL 75 UV
At drupa 2008, marks-3zet will be demonstrating waterless offset printing at Booth A 46 in Hall 3, on a Speedmaster XL 75 with UV equipment and a Suprasetter A75.

The Heidelberg portfolio includes two press series suitable for plastics printing - the Speedmaster CD 74 and Speedmaster XL 75 for the production of 48 card repeats and the Speedmaster SM 52 for 24 repeats. Both presses for plastic card production boast many different configuration options for processing and drying UV inks and the ability to process a wide range of printing stock thicknesses, coupled with excellent sheet travel properties. This demonstrates that Heidelberg presses are just as suitable for waterless offset printing as they are for conventional wet offset printing. Leading plastic card manufacturers are using Heidelberg technology to alternate between wet and waterless offset printing as required.