• Ergonomics and user-friendliness further enhanced to reduce operator workload
• Design philosophy of the Peak Performance Class XL 106 transferred
• Future-proof investment thanks to higher resale value
• First presentation at Pack Print in Thailand and in the Print Media Center in Wiesloch-Walldorf in the fall of 2019

For the many small and medium-sized printing companies, the 50 x 70 cm format is the perfect fit for their product range in commercial and packaging printing. Many packaging printers in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics segment in particular use the 50 x 70 format, which offers benefits for small folding carton sizes and a high level of embellishment, as well as short runs. Over 19,000 delivered Speedmaster CD 74, XL 75, and CX 75 printing units are evidence of the demand for this model series in this format. Reason enough for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) to now upgrade the platform with a modern, ergonomic design to enhance its user-friendliness. Delivery of the redesigned Speedmaster CX 75 and XL 75 is set to begin in September 2019.

Modern, ergonomic design
Enhancement of the successful model series in the 50 x 70 format is ongoing. For example, the foundation for the Push to Stop philosophy was laid for drupa 2016 with the IntelliStart 2 user software. The Speedmaster CX 75 was presented one year later, optimally tailored to the needs of smaller printing companies in one- and two-shift operation thanks its much smaller footprint combined with high substrate flexibility.

“We have seen how the topic of user ergonomics has increased in importance,” explains Frank Süsser, Product Manager for the 50 x 70 format. “Even though automation looks after many routine tasks today, the operator always has something to do on the machine, like staging printing plates, adding ink, changing washup cloths and rubber blankets, or doing maintenance. The generous space between the printing units in the Speedmaster XL 75 and CX 75 is already useful, however we went a step further and modernized the entire gallery concept even more.”

The design of the Speedmaster XL 106 was the inspiration for this, and was transferred to both machines. This includes both the gallery concept as well as the feeder and delivery gantries, which enhance the machines visually.

The machines will be on display for the first time at Pack Print in Thailand in September 2019 and at a customer event in October 2019 in Heidelberg’s Print Media Center Commercial in Wiesloch-Walldorf. “This is the first foretaste of drupa 2020. Other innovative solutions will follow to make our customers in the 50 x 70 format even more successful,” explains Frank Süsser.

New ergonomic design well received by customers
“Our Speedmaster CD 74 was already a great machine – but the new Speedmaster XL 75 is another level. Even after just a few days, our printers can’t imagine life without the new ergonomic design. Working on the machine is fun now. It’s much more comfortable to operate, and therefore less tiring. As far as technology, the machine is also right up to date,” reports Michel Schwander, Head of Commercial Printing at Theiler Druck AG in Wollerau, Switzerland, happily. The world’s first Speedmaster XL 75 five-color press with coating unit and the new design was installed there recently. “With AutoPlate Pro, Prinect Inpress Control, and the entire Preset control system, the individual work steps are now carried out fully automatically, are highly automated, and are also clearly visualized on the Wallscreen. This means that we can produce one job after the other much more quickly and efficiently,” concludes Schwander. The machine is used to produce brochures, mailings, advertising materials, and packagings.

What customers like about the Speedmaster XL 75 is its application flexibility, productivity, and print quality. Whether as the base model, or a highly equipped machine with maximum automation for autonomous and navigated printing, all the way up to Anicolor technology. Its strong popularity gives the machine a high resale value, and therefore correspondingly high investment security. 

A new design feature on the Speedmaster CX 75 are the silver gantries at the feeder and delivery from the Speedmaster XL 106.