Postpress plays a particularly important role in determining the quality of the end product and creative suppliers can harness special applications to boost their productivity significantly. That is why more than 200 customers from around the world accepted an invitation from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) to attend the "Postpress Special Folding Days" at the Ludwigsburg site in early June. During the events, they encountered a huge range of special solutions based on Stahlfolder folding mchines. Taking center stage were innovative options for the production of direct mail and several different folding machine variants and options for the kinds of small folds used in the packaging inserts that accompany pharmaceutical products. On show to the public for the first time was the new Stahlfolder BH/CH folding machine series, which delivers professional folding production at an attractive price-performance ratio. "Events such as these bring together the creativity of our customers and the vast application know-how of our product experts, which creates an exceptional basis for new and innovative applications and product ideas," says Dr. Frank Schaum, who has been in charge of the Postpress Commercial division at Heidelberg since February this year.

"That is why we are showcasing, among other things, both carefully selected special machines and our Stahlfolder TX high-performance folding system, which we hope will give our customers inspiration for how to become profitable specialist suppliers in a wide variety of sectors." 

The right folding machine for every customer application 
A clear trend is developing in industrialized nations toward ever more productive solutions. Due to continuing consolidation, capacities are moving more and more toward higher productivity and larger print formats. In the emerging markets, however, investment decisions are primarily dominated by economic factors such as low wage costs. That is why Heidelberg is using the Special Folding Days to present both special machines and a realigned portfolio of folding machines that responds to the various different customer requirements. 

When it comes to industrial high-performance production, the Stahlfolder TX 82 folding system and the versatile Stahlfolder KH 82 combination folding machine with the innovative PFX (Pallet Feeder eXtended) stream feeder highlight two key features of cost-effective modern postpress operations - maximum production output and application flexibility with short makeready times. These special systems can help to boost productivity by up to 50 percent compared to conventional production processes. 

Heidelberg also launched a completely new folding machine for cost-effective standard production at the start of this year - the Stahlfolder BH/CH machines in the 50 x 70 centimeter (19.69 x 27.56 inch) and 70 x 100 centimeter (27.56 x 39.37 inch) formats. Print shops can use these versatile folding machines as a low-cost entry-level option for in-house postpress operations and as a cost-effective means of expanding capacities. Thanks to their end-to-end MCT (Modular Control Technology) control systems, they are fully compatible with all Stahlfolder folding machines, deliveries, and accessories. 

To meet the wide range of requirements and investment budgets of customers worldwide, the machines are available in both basic manual versions and with a new, extremely user-friendly automation system. "During the Special Folding Days, we are presenting the new Stahlfolder BH 56 models as automated machines for rapid makeready and the Stahlfolder CH 78 as a compact, automated cross-fold machine." explains Dr. Schaum. "We are meeting our customers' needs head-on by providing a low-cost route into industrial folding that even includes automated systems and enabling them to leverage the tried-and-tested benefits of the Stahlfolder range, i.e. precise and high-quality mechanical engineering plus full compatibility with the entire Stahlfolder world."