Printing Simplified

Prinect Press Center is the new high performance control console for all Speedmaster machines, from the modest Speedmaster SM 52 to the very large XL 162. Specifically designed to offer maximum ease of use and dependability, Heidelberg's new innovations make printing noticeably easier. 

When a machine is perfectly attuned to its operator, professionals call it "ergonomic," and users describe it as "comfortable". Regardless of the term used, the Prinect Press Center from Heidelberg is wholly designed to meet the needs of print professionals. "Today, printers must do more than simply print, they must monitor entire processes," explains Jürgen Mittmann, Prinect Product Manager. The heightened demands of the printing industry require a new operational concept that minimizes effort and makes working easier. This is exactly what the Prinect Press Center does.

Prinect Press Center: Maximum Ease of Use
Jürgen Mittmann indicates the central control console, "From here, the operator can prepare jobs, set up and operate the machine, as well as quickly and accurately evaluate the print sheet. All this in complete comfort." The diagonal sheet deposit board, combined with norm-compliant standard daylight lamps, ensures low-reflection illumination, allowing for optimal viewing conditions for checking the print sheet. The 19-inch touch screen features clear operator guidance, making working more pleasant. The adjustable screen can be moved side-to-side and angled vertically, which allows the operator to position the screen in the most comfortable manner. The control station is outstanding due to its generous drawer space and deposit as well as its new, intelligent functions.

Instellistart: Automatic Job Changeover
Intellistart is another feature that enables optimal streamlined operation, thus saving time and effort. Process-oriented operator guidance ensures quick and easy job changeover. It works like this: the operator queues the next job by loading it and its presetting data from the Prinect Pressroom Manager. When the job is released, Intellistart compares the machine's current status with the parameters of the new job. An intelligent analysis of this information creates a dynamic list of all operator actions necessary for the job changeover. "Ideally, the operator loads, checks and confirms the new job, then starts the changeover with Intellistart," Jürgen Mittman notes. With this technology, all operations that can be performed simultaneously may be executed at the same time. The operator confirms manual operations, such as printing plate change, from the appropriate control panels of the printing units without having to go back to the control station. Instellistart significantly reduces time spent moving between the printing machine and control console. Depending on the number and complexity of job changeovers, Intellistart increases productivity up to 8 percent and reduces the number of user operations by 70 percent.

Wallscreen: The Information Center
The real head-turner in the Prinect Press Center is the Wallscreen, a large format screen perfectly integrated into the ambient light shield. The screen displays the print sheet and the ink zones in their actual width. This depiction of the print sheet allows the operator to select color separations and to display them individually or to position the sheet brakes in the non-printing areas during perfecting. Mittmann says, "The Wallscreen gives the operator additional information. This increases the transparency of the whole printing process. It is also an impressive tool for final printing approval." The unique overview of all machine processes complements these features: The machine is depicted transparently in cross-section for the operator. Prinect measurement tool information can be displayed on the Wallscreen. Additionally, the operator can open other applications, such as the Machine Component Scout to locate service parts or Prinect Cockpit to show the shift schedule.

Touchscreen and Jog Wheel on High-Pile Delivery: The Perfect Couple
Speedmaster models now feature not only touch screen operation on the high-pile delivery, but also a jog wheel. All air values can be adjusted using the jog wheel. "Turning the jog wheel makes selecting all air values much easier, faster and more accurate," says Mittmann. The intuitive touch screen operation, however, is ideal for selecting and adjusting dampening, powder and dryer settings. Air values are saved and are thus available for repeat jobs.

Sheetfed Control: Unified Newest Generation Platform for all Models
Heidelberg now offers unified and continuous operation for all Speedmaster presses. The patented, decentralized control platform, Sheetfed Control, is the "motor" of the Prinect Press Center. Sheetfed Control features maximal availability and wide-reaching diagnostic possibilities. Also, troubleshooting and fault diagnostics using internet-based Heidelberg Remote Service have been significantly expanded.

Print Shop Workflow Integration
The interaction of the control console and the associated Prinect products results in perfect integration into the print shop workflow. "We matched our color measuring and control systems, as well as sheet inspection systems, perfectly to the control console. As the settings are transferred directly, the operator can use the measurement data immediately, and is thus able to attain the color and register quickly and correct possible divergences from the reference values," explains Mittmann. The Prinect Prepress Interface or the Prinect Pressroom Manager handles data management between the Prinect Press Center and the print shop workflow. Directly transferring the job and presetting data eliminates the need to enter the data twice. This enables rapid and reliable processes at the control console; automatic data gathering can be used for post-calculation and detailed production reports.

You will find more information regarding the prinect press center in edition 266 of  Heidelberg News starting October 2008.