With the ROLAND 900, XXL format 8 perfecting press, manroland is setting new efficiency standards in sheetfed offset printing. The Himmer printing company and manroland celebrated the world premiere of this large-format press in Augsburg on 11 May.

64 four-color DIN A4 pages in one pass through the press, printed in the highest sheetfed offset quality, slit in the middle before the delivery and stacked in two perfect piles for finishing on standard folding machines. This efficiency in large-format sheetfed printing is now a reality in Augsburg. A ROLAND 900, XXL, the first format 8 perfecting press, is now in production at Himmer AG. As it started up printing books, this innovation from manroland already made a great impression. Hannes Eisele, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Himmer AG, is very satisfied: "The cooperation with manroland in development of this perfecting press has really paid off. We already call format 8 the Golden Format because it gives us advantages for almost all our jobs." Dr. Markus Rall, Executive Board Member Sheetfed at manroland AG, emphasized three factors that have contributed to the success of Himmer AG: the company is "receptive to innovations, purposeful with a clear business model, and dynamic in project work."

The result of the latest joint project is the new ROLAND 900, XXL with a perfecting system. This press is primarily aimed at print services providers in the fields of commercial and publications printing who are looking to print paper and light carton in perfecting mode for signatures and covers. The classic products of commercial printers are catalogs and brochures in the DIN A4 format, whereas the products of publications printers such as books and magazines are often not in DIN formats. The general advantages of perfecting that come from One Pass Productivity also apply to the XXL format: no second pass, shorter wash-up and makeready processes, lower spoils allowance, simpler organization, the space saved by fewer pallets, or the shorter throughput times prior to the postpress operations. For many products, depending on format and multiple-up image arrangement possibilities, the larger format 8 sheet also permits twice as many multiple-up images compared with format 7B.

New performance features in large-format perfecting
manroland has equipped the new XXL perfecting press with a number of performance features that large-format perfectors never had before. With a maximum sheet size of 1,310 x 1,870 mm, the XXL perfecting press in format 8 can print a sheet 10 mm longer and 20 mm wider than a straight printing press of the same format. The benefit for the printing company: even though perfecting always requires a 10 mm longer sheet, the maximum image area of both versions is the same (1,290 x 1,850 mm).

Extremely stable and controlled sheet turning
All cylinders of the sheet turning device are double-size, which ensures extremely stable and smooth sheet travel in perfecting mode. This is supported by a suction bar in the storage drum that tensions the sheet trailing edge. Standard equipment includes the ROLAND InlineObserver, which uses video cameras to monitor the sheet turning process and sheet travel between the printing units.

The same sheet delivery performance as a straight printing press
The new delivery of this perfector is equipped with only four delivery systems that ensure optimal sheet guiding from the last printing cylinder to the delivery stack. Together with the take-off grippers, the segmented sheet brake provides the same stacking quality that manroland straight printing presses are renowned for. The free space needed on the underside of the sheet for absolutely smear-free transport after turning is minimal. The position of the suction elements is adjustable by electric motors and storable in the control console.

Slitting reduces makeready time
The optional ROLAND InlineSlitter that slits the sheet down the middle is positioned over the delivery drum, which reduces maintenance and makeready time because there is no blanket changing. During the procedure a slitting wheel runs against a steel band on the drum. Two perfect delivery stacks in a maximum sheet size of 5B are ideal for the postpress operations.

Other equipment features
The perfecting version of the ROLAND 900, XXL is equipped as standard with ColorPilot plus for densitometrical and colorimetrical measuring and control from a separate measuring desk, as well as the PPL plate changing system. Options include: the ROLAND InlineColorPilot, which is an inline color measuring and control system located in the last printing unit before the sheet turning device and the last printing unit of the press as well as the APL fully-automated plate changing system. Specially equipped the press can also be delivered with a reel cutting device.