New trends in the mid-size press market

(What's New in Half-Size) At the Drupa 2000 and Graph Expo exhibitions last year, the most predictable themes revolved around web services, digital printing, and process development. However, those who are concerned about traditional printing should pay attention to some designs and technologies for 28 to 29-inch printing equipment. There are also large-format presses, and many automation devices are run by 40-inch presses in their own way. Some printer manufacturers have introduced many new products, and their automation capabilities have greatly improved. Here are some of the new features on the market and the improved features of the medium model presses. The ADAST company, Adast in the Czech Republic, does not produce printing equipment with a format larger than 20-1/2 by 29 inches. They found a suitable location in the medium-sized printing press market. The company's core products include the 700 series (9 x 26 inches) capable of providing five-color printing and the 800 series (20-1/2 x 29 inches) capable of six-color printing. Its best-selling product is the 26-inch 700 series printer, which includes half of the total sales. Tower coaters are installed in the medium size model and the 700 series DI model presses. Akiyama, which is known for its unique straight-through double-decker design, launched a new mid-size press at the Graph Expo in Chicago. The new J-Print press is available in 21 x 29 inches and 23 x 32 inches. This double-sided printing press prints on both sides in one pass. The printing press on display was a 10-color J-Print 32 model equipped with a control console and a ceramic impression cylinder. Akiyama also introduced the Bestech BT and Bestech BT-P presses: the former is a 28-inch single-sided press that looks like a traditional press, with different types from two-color to eight-color; the latter is also a 28-inch press that provides the back of the paper Monochrome printing. The HEIDELBERG company Heidelberg represents a new level of automation and simplification for medium-sized presses. The company added more units to the highly automated Speedmaster SM74 (20-1/2 x 29-inch) device and added a new CP2000 center console. By converting the SM74 into a 10-color printer, 5/5 double-sided 5-color printing can be performed in a single channel, and full-duplex double-sided printing with button conversion is performed, increasing the versatility of the device. The new CP2000 management system links the press with the entire digital process, while also controlling the new fully automatic conversion of the double-sided printing equipment. The SM74 is available in different models from monochrome to 10-color, and connects four or more print units using the CP2000 center console. Heidelberg's new Speedmaster CD74 device is primarily aimed at the packaging and labeling market, can be printed on a wide variety of substrates, and has a larger print format (up to 23-1/2 by 29 inches). It is also available with the CP2000 center console. Connection. It has a maximum printing speed of 15,000 sheets/hour, and is complemented by a double-diameter impression cylinder and an air transfer device that simplifies the transfer of paper between printing units. The optional coating system in the CD74 comes with an organic internal squeegee and a continuous transfer device. The new CD74 is configured for the 4-6-color printing press introduced in the spring of 2001. Finally, Heidelberg also demonstrated the Printmaster 74 press on Drupa, which is a less automated version of the SM74. The 20-1 x 29-inch press adds many manual operations, such as the use of a simple operating tool for the plate clamp components. This part is equipped with automatic components, including a central management system embedded in the transfer printing unit, which can control the printing unit, the inking unit and the wetting unit. The machine's printing speed can reach 12,000 sheets/hour. Now it can only be used for two-color printing. Four-color printing products may be introduced next year. The PM74 is capable of single-sided printing on paper from 0.03mm thick paper to 0.6mm paper. KBA's KBA launches a new medium-format press at Drupa, the new Rapida 74 press, with a 20-1/2 x 29-inch format, more automatic features, and integration with its predecessor, Rapida. 72 all the features. At Drupa is shown a six-color printing version with a coating part and a transfer part. The new press is equipped with KBA's Ergotronic console and supports various automatic functions of the press, including remote plate adjustment, calibration control, and digital process flow to the CIP3 interface. The automatic plate change function is a feature of the printing machine, and a font detection system is attached. The printer is rated for a print speed of 15,000 sheets/hour. KOMORI Komori has introduced a new two-color 28-inch Sprint series half web press. The Model GS includes an automatic cleaning system for blankets and ink rollers, a system for automatically replacing polyester plates, and a paper-feeding system that processes various materials under high-speed printing. This double-sided printing system also features a quick-change device that enables conversion in 1-1/2 minutes. The company also introduced the Lithrone convertible press, which can switch between 26-28 inches for four- to eight-color printing with a coating unit. MAN ROLAND Manroland introduces three models of R200, R300 and R500 for the half market. The new R200 press is an improved version of the traditional Roland 200 press using ordinary plates. The new device is available in two-color or four-color format with a print size of 20 x 29 inches. The R200 prints at speeds of up to 13,000 sheets/hour, using double-diameter impression cylinders and non-contact transferers. Digital printing console combined with delivery system. The device's automation system includes the remote positioning device, the thickness of the substrate, the program-controlled ink injection system and the ink film thickness preset characteristic file, and an optional blanket cleaning system. The R300 is a 23 x 29-inch press that can be connected to up to three double-sided printing units, eight color printing units, and coating capabilities. The printing materials of this equipment can be from 0.04mm to 0.6mm, and can automatically adjust the size of the paper feeding part and the transmission part. There are cleaning systems for ink units, blankets, impression cylinders and transfer cylinders, and automatic version change can also be performed. Even with double-sided printing, the speed can reach 15,000 sheets/hour. The R500 is designed for packaging printing. It has a 2-8 color printing mode, and the thickness of printing material can be from 0.1mm to 1.0mm. Equipment can be used for automatic plate loading and blanket cylinder cleaning. It is also possible to use the impression cylinder cleaning device and the temperature control device of the ink supply system. The R500 is the fastest press in its class, with a speed of up to 18,000 sheets/hour. MITSUBISHI Mitsubishi Launches 1F 20-1/2x28-3/8-inch Press with 13,000 or 15,000 Sheets/Hour, plus Up to 10 Printing Units for Tower-Coated Parts . The device features Mitsubishi's MultiMode three-point wetting system, pre-adjusting the speed profile, and remotely operating the positioning devices - side, perimeter and diagonal. The press also comes with a high-speed plate clamping system and semi-automatic system plate change that allows bending of the plate. POLLY The POLLY, a basic press manufacturing company in the Czech Republic, was separated from Adast and displayed a 29-inch (74 series) press at Graph Expo, which is expected to be put into production next year. The company's 19 x 26-inch press features double-, four-, five-color, double-sided printing. The electronic program can be used to control the operation, and the operator only needs to use the button to control the air speed when the printing machine operates. The company has recently undergone some administrative reforms and expects the Polly press to have new technology next year. SAKURAI Sakurai has been providing automated control in half-width presses for many years and is a pioneer in this technology. Many machine operations are controlled by the main console, including the 72 series (21 x 28 inches) and the 74 series (21 x 29 inches). The 72 series can choose to use either a high-stacking or low-stacking type of stacking. Sakurai's features include the SPC (Sakurai Plate Changing System), a unique plate change system, which does not require bending of the trailing edge. The press has a continuous wetting system and remote positioning device, an automatic ink roller cleaning and blanket cleaning device, and a double-sided printing unit that does not require tools and an automatic change system.