Heidelberg Introduces New Anicolor Inking Unit Technology for the Speedmaster SM 52

• Extremely cost-effective, even for the shortest of runs
• Startup waste cut by up to 90 percent
• 25 percent capacity increase
• Use of commercially available plates and inks

At Ipex 2006, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be unveiling the Anicolor inking unit in a Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press. This unit, which has no inking zones, will make it possible to pro- duce even the shortest of runs using a standard offset workflow but with significantly higher margins.

Hardly any startup sheets are required when using the new Anicolor inking unit on the Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 - just 10 to 20 depending on the print motif. This means up to 90 percent less startup waste. The fact that no ink zone settings are required cuts make-ready times by up to 40 percent. And the time saved increases press capacity by 25 percent.

The Anicolor inking unit developed by Heidelberg enables printing without ghosting. Thanks to the format-size screen and inking form roller, exactly the same amount of ink is supplied to the printing plate with each revolution, applying absolute smooth solids to the printing stock. The Anicolor inking unit's efficient temperature control system means that the amount of ink applied to the relevant printing materials can easily be adapted over the entire printing form. Further innovations in the Anicolor inking unit's chambered blade system maximize print quality and the speed of ink changes while minimizing cleaning times. The more standardized print job processing is, the more the strengths of this revolutionary and trendsetting Anicolor inking unit come into their own.

Any print shop that has to process runs of just a few hundred sheets on a daily basis will benefit from this development in future. Many companies are faced with a difficult decision over how to deal efficiently with this growing market demand for short runs. Should they use a digital press, with its associated limitations in the choice of printing materials and high costs for long runs, or offset printing.

With the innovative Anicolor inking unit, the advantages of offset printing apply even to the shortest of runs. The major asset of the Speedmaster SM 52 with the Anicolor inking unit is that it uses commercially available printing plates and inks because the press works with the tried-and-tested Alcolor continuous dampening system. This means that very short runs do not involve higher costs for special plates and inks.  Furthermore, existing systems can still be used for plate manufacture. The sheet travel of the Speedmaster SM 52 remains unchanged. The resultant very wide choice of printing materials and high production speeds means that longer runs can be handled quickly too.

Anicolor is an option for the Speedmaster SM 52 and will be available for all four-color models from the beginning of 2007.

Image 1:
At Ipex 2006, Heidelberg will be introducing Anicolor, the world's first inking unit with no ink zones, in a Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press. This will make it possible to produce even the shortest of runs using a standard offset workflow but with significantly higher margins.

Image 2:
The Anicolor inking unit has considerably fewer rollers than a conventional unit. This results in very rapid inking, and very few startup sheets are required - just 10 to 20 depending on the print motif.
 
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-Mail: hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com