The University of Wuppertal and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) are extending their partnership to include development projects. For this purpose, a Speedmaster SM 52-4+L Anicolor UV press and a Suprasetter A 52 CtP platesetter were installed recently in Wuppertal. "The Speedmaster Anicolor UV press enables us to offer pioneering training and research activities based on the very latest technology," says Professor Ulrich Jung, holder of the chair for offset and digital printing technology. Professor Jung and his students will tackle topics such as recyclability, environmental protection and occupational health & safety regulations, as well as cost-effectiveness within the context of UV technology. The development partnership will also include BA or MA theses and project work on the parameters influencing color density in short inking units. The market trend towards increasing levels of surface finishing can also be researched thanks to the fact that the Speedmaster SM 52 is equipped with a coating unit and corresponding UV dryers.

"We are confident that the new Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor UV press will, on the one hand, help the students understand innovative press technology and, on the other, provide the University of Wuppertal with the opportunity to adopt a practical approach to key research topics," adds Karl Saueressig, Head of Region West at Heidelberg.

The new UV press replaces a Speedmaster CD 74. "Thanks to the user-friendly operation of the Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor, our students will waste no time in mastering the machine," says Professor Jung, explaining why they chose Heidelberg as their supplier and partner. In postpress, the university uses a TH 56 folding machine from Heidelberg. Last year, it installed the Prinect Integration Manager and Prinect Pressroom Manager. Interfaces to the Postpress Manager and a management information system are still in place. This gives the university access to an end-to-end print shop workflow and provides the students with state-of-the-art software technology in this area, too.

Offset press training primarily uses Heidelberg solutions
Heidelberg is supporting contemporary training by providing state-of-the-art technical equipment. Thanks to partnership-based financing concepts, Heidelberg supplies 95 percent of the technology used in German vocational colleges. Around 190 presses with some 450 printing units – ranging from the Quickmaster QM 46 and Speedmaster SM 52 through to the Speedmaster XL 75 – have been installed at these locations since 1996. Specialist universities and the vocational training centers of numerous print and media associations also make almost exclusive use of Heidelberg offset printing technology for training purposes.

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