MAN Roland’s drupa 2004 initiative will introduce advancements designed to help printers apply the full force of automation to real world applications, so that they can provide added value to their companies and their customers. Taking the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) concept to the next level will be a new network solution called printnet. A fully open system, the innovation works like a digital backbone, allowing a printer to integrate all aspects of his production workflow — prepress, press and postpress — with the MIS system of his choice. The result is a complete end-to-end JDF-driven workflow. The modular innovation will seamlessly connect any digitally based press operating system to all other printing facility functions. As such, printnet will fully network the production workflow and all the administrative automation provided by virtually any JDF-compatible MIS solution. “Open architecture is the key here,” says Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland Inc. “printnet lets a facility chose solutions that work best for it in each function, including MIS.“ MAN Roland is introducing a host of new and enhanced press models that will demonstrate the interoperability printnet provides. With their printnet connections, the presses will form the world’s most powerful and versatile CIM printing network. The ROLAND 900XXL — the world’s largest automated sheetfed press — will make its trade show debut at drupa, running live jobs throughout the show. The 73-inch system delivers 328% more printable area than a conventional 40” machine, and 22% more printable area than even the largest 47” X 64” press. Another advantage: the 900 XXL is built to handle thick substrates, ranging up to up to 48 pts, at a top speed of 13,000 sph. For denizens of drupa seeking new niches and sales opportunities, MAN Roland will demonstrate the 3/4-size ROLAND 500. It equips facilities to print on stock from 1 point to 40 points. Microflute, tags and labels, plastics, and a range of other products are all on its agenda, at a top speed of 18,000 sheets per hour. The press’ 23.23” x 29.13” sheet size yields 50% more output than conventional half-size presses. Both the 900 and 500 offer the automated advantages of the PECOM press operating system. Also appearing will be a six-color ROLAND 700 with a double coater, Eagle Eye quality control and an inline sorter. All are features that make printing more productive on the 41-inch machine and enable a printer to add new applications to his agenda. For compact printing environments, a four-color ROLAND 200 with Ergonomic Plate Loading (ELP) will be introduced at the show. The 29-inch press can handle board up to 32 point and advances the state of automation for short-run jobs. The ultimate in print production integration — DICOweb — will be performing with new postpress capabilities. DICOweb not only delivers offset quality printing without the need for plates, it provides a complete CIM workflow — combining prepress, press and postpress — in one streamlined device. DICOweb pilot sites are thriving in the print marketplace, with the newest recently going to three shifts, while contemplating adding additional DICOweb modules. For high volume production, A ROTOMAN commercial web press will be connected to the printnet network. It will demonstrate its ability to accelerate from job-to-job, thanks to a host of makeready innovations anchored by the PECOM operating system. A LITHOMAN printing unit will be on display to show the scope of MAN Roland’s largest commercial web press. And a simulation of the new COLORMAN XXL will show how that 24-page format machine can produce at the rate of 36 feet per second. DICOkit, which can add plateless offset capabilities to existing MAN Roland web presses, will also be featured in a simulation. “It seems like only yesterday that MAN Roland introduced the industry to Computer Integrated Manufacturing with our PECOM system,” said MAN Roland CEO Yves Rogivue. “Now PECOM is automating hundreds of printing facilities around the world, and we’re set to advance CIM a giant step further with the new innovations we’ll be introducing at drupa 2004.” MAN Roland can be visited in Hall 6 and is a leading participant in the PrintCity exhibit. The company’s website — www.manroland.com — will provide continuous news and updates from drupa 2004.