manroland now offers autoprint models for commercial web offset printing as well. The autoprint series already feature fully-automated job changeover and system start-up, which ensures flexibility, efficient planning and fewer waste sheets. manroland's vision is fully-automated production with the printer taking on the role of a process monitor.

Numerous autoprint newspaper printing systems are already installed and in daily production. This success encouraged manroland to introduce autoprint models for commercial web offset printing which is characterized by industrial-scale production. Here customers want a low cost per copy for short and long runs, stable quality, production reliability, efficient planning and resource-conserving production. Therefore, autoprint developments focus on a future-safeguarded concept, efficient production planning, extreme run length versatility, simple operation, and environment-compatible production.

The autoprint vision is a fully-automated press that will establish the benchmark for total production efficiency through automatic control of major processes such as job changeover and production. Manual tasks are reduced to a minimum and the press operator's role changes to that of a process monitor. This vision stands on a realistic foundation. Already today, autoprint contains the technology for completely automatic job changeover of a commercial web printing system and start-up of the new job. The major autoprint features are the AutoJobChange control package, the APL (AutomaticPlateLoading) system for fast job changeover, QuickStart for low-waste inking-up, and Inline control systems for quality assurance.

Control with AutoJobChange
AutoJobChange is a package for controlling many different job changeover functions. This option carries out many press changeover functions automatically and in a standardized manner without any operator intervention. These include for instance blanket washing, plate changing with APL (AutomaticPlateLoading) and pre-inking with QuickStart. The AutoJobChange system provides seamless changeover from one job to the next and makes short runs on high-volume presses even more efficient.

Changeover with APL (AutomaticPlateLoading)
With the APL (AutomaticPlateLoading) system, manroland sets the standards for the LITHOMAN series with web widths up to 2,250 millimeters. APL reliably controls plate loading and tensioning as well as unloading of the used plates, all automatically from the control console with the web in the press. APL reduces the time needed for plate changing to two minutes, is operator independent, and thus reproducible. This speeds up job changeover, and needs only one operator.

Start-up with QuickStart
With QuickStart, manroland's patented pre-inking system, saleable copies are produced after only a few cylinder revolutions. The pre-inking process takes place automatically while the press accelerates and makes sure that when impression goes on the right amount of ink is at the right place. Saleable copies sooner means low start-up waste – with QuickStart, manroland sets industry standards.

Stable production with Inline control systems
The Inline control systems ensure constant print quality. These include control of cut-off register, color register, and ink density.

CutCon plus ensures stable cut-off register during start-up, blanket washing and reel changing. This ensures product quality and thus lower waste rates. CutCon plus is effective as the press accelerates, and from around 8,000 cylinder revolutions per hour up to maximum production speed only good copies are produced. Also after blanket washing and register mark detection, CutCon plus readjusts the cut-off register quickly and reliably during the acceleration phase. When reels are changed, CutCon plus compensates for web tension variations. The result: CutCon plus reduces complaints concerning register variations to an absolute minimum.

InlineDensity Control measures ink density much faster than conventional systems. The ink flow is optimally controlled and there is always the right amount of ink in the circuit. The modular system constantly measures the full web width – whether it is 16 pages (965 millimeters) or 80 pages (2,250 millimeters) wide. The density of all inks is recorded after only three cylinder revolutions. The average of five measurements is used to establish an accurate mean value. Checking quality with InlineDensity Control helps to verify print quality vis-à-vis customers. InlineRegistration Control ensures exact color register. An electronically controlled CCD camera measures the very small and inconspicuous color marks.