Just in time for drupa, Drukkerij Moderna in Paal, Belgium, started up a brand-new ROTOMAN DirectDrive from manroland web systems. The company prints magazines, catalogs, and advertising supplements in both large and small print runs. The new ROTOMAN with DynaChange flying imprint change function will mainly be used for the production of 16-page signatures.

Internationally renowned print house
Drukkerij Moderna in Paal, in the Belgian province of Limburg, is one of the ten largest printing companies in Belgium and internationally renowned as a specialist for full-service, high-quality printing with rapid throughput times. The company’s extensive expertise is perhaps best demonstrated in small heatset print runs. Founded in 1947, the print house has extensive state-of-the-art equipment for both sheetfed and webfed printing, as well as prepress and finishing.

Long-standing partnership
Two LITHOMANs and a ten-color ROLAND 700 press were already operating in Paal. Now, the Paal-based printer has chosen manroland web systems once again as its partner for webfed printing in the future. For the production of covers and 16-page signatures, the owners ordered a brand-new, highly automated ROTOMAN DirectDrive, equipped with the DynaChange imprint function and additional autoprint features. Operating at 65,000 revolutions per hour, the extremely productive press with five printing units, in 620 x 965 millimeter format, was commissioned just in time for drupa and replaces older presses from other manufacturers. The ROTOMAN press will primarily be used for the production of 16-page signatures. Equipped with plow folds and a pin folder in a 1:3:3 system, the configuration is also designed for high-quality cover printing.

Primarily commercial considerations
Investing in a new web offset system is a critical decision for printing companies. In a family-run business like Drukkerij Moderna, it should come as no surprise that the performance of different manufacturers and the efficiency of various press series were subject to detailed analyses and evaluations. After comparing alternatives from Europe and Asia, manroland web systems and the ROTOMAN came out on top. In addition to high printing quality, the main factors that sealed the deal for the new ROTOMAN were low waste and rapid job changes thanks to the autoprint system and DynaChange technology. This provides the foundation for an excellent utilization rate, which is key to success in the highly competitive field of web offset printing. manroland web systems also scored points based on confidence in the performance, quality, and reliability of its presses and service which has emerged through its long-standing partnership.

DynaChange: the superior solution
Additional convincing features of the ROTOMAN were its sophisticated ergonomic control and DynaChange, the superior, elegant solution for flying job changes. The ROTOMAN switches imprints automatically on both sides at high speeds. The web is guided through the printing units without contact or diversions. This sidesteps maintenance costs for web lead elements and reduces the risk of web breaks. For 4c products, switching the black forme only requires a configuration with a total of five printing units. If there are no imprint changes in the job, the fifth unit can optionally print a special color or coating.

Drukkerij Moderna: one-stop printing
Moderna unites prepress and digital workflow, as well as six presses and five finishing systems under a single roof. It has anything and everything required to offer technically demanding products with speed and efficiency. “There’s nothing you can think of that Drukkerij Moderna doesn’t print in house,” is the company’s motto. Brochures, advertising supplements, magazines, newspaper supplements, flyers, catalogs; glued, cut, and stitched inline; brochures with covers and even hardcovers are all part of the service portfolio. Gadgets such as cards, stickers, or small books can be tipped in. The company’s services also include personalized advertising, from addressing to sorting, and even mail distribution.