World Premiere: Heidelberg Presents the Suprasetter – a New Generation of CtP |
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| 05/05/2004 |
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- Suprasetter innovations give customers crucial competitive edge
- Investment security thanks to flexible, modular upgrade options that focus on user needs
- New laser system confirms Heidelberg's technological leadership status
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At drupa 2004, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be presenting the Suprasetter range, a new generation of thermal external-drum platesetters. All parts of this device have been developed by Heidelberg and it supports all Heidelberg plate formats for sheetfed and commercial web offset. The Suprasetter is available in 4-page and 8-page formats and is equipped with a new Heidelberg laser imaging system. With five different speeds, various automation settings from manual to fully automatic and a high-performance system with Multi Cassette Loader (MCL), the Suprasetter sets new standards in the prepress sector. The Suprasetter features an end-to-end modular concept that provides a great deal of investment security. Users have access to a wide variety of add-on options which meet all their needs while at the same time remaining flexible for subsequent adaptations.
"Heidelberg's extensive experience gathered over the course of several thousand CtP installations has been put to use in the development of the Suprasetter range. Many customers are looking for a cost-effective gateway to CtP coupled with the flexibility for subsequent system expansion. Our new Suprasetter range is the ideal solution for these requirements. The many innovations featured in the unit also give customers a crucial competitive edge," explains Dr. Klaus Spiegel, member of the board and responsible for products and marketing at Heidelberg.
The customer benefits of the Suprasetter range in detail:
Wide format range for the printroom
The Suprasetter (supra (Latin) = on the top, above, over) supports all standard plate formats. The Suprasetter 74 is compatible with all Heidelberg presses and many presses from other manufacturers, from the Quickmaster QM 46 to the Speedmaster CD 74. Additionally the Suprasetter 105 images the printing plate format of the new Speedmaster XL 105 and web offset presses. The option of imaging with centered or edge register integrates plate production into the web offset process.
Scalable concept for different throughput requirements
The Suprasetter offers a wide range of plate throughput options. The more laser modules a Suprasetter contains, the greater its imaging speed. Additional laser modules can also be retrofitted rapidly on site after the unit has been installed. In the S version with two laser modules, the Suprasetter 74 images up to 19 plates per hour, while the H version with four modules produces up to 30 plates per hour. In 8-page format, the Suprasetter E105 images up to 14 plates per hour with two laser modules and the Suprasetter S105 images up to 19 plates per hour with three laser modules. With six laser modules, the Suprasetter H105 images up to 30 plates per hour. These five models in total support many different requirements and levels of automation.
Intelligent security systems for a stable production process
The laser modules in the Suprasetter feature an intelligent diode system (IDS). If a diode fails, the system automatically identifies the greatest string of active diodes to the right or left of this diode. The production can then be maintained using these active diodes. The large depth of focus of the Suprasetter compensates for any unevenness in the printing plates. The Suprasetter therefore ensures precise, constant imaging quality at all times. A permanent temperature control system evens out variations in the ambient temperature. It maintains both the individual laser heads and the plate drums in the Suprasetter at a constant temperature, so that imaging can be performed independently of the ambient temperature and always under the same conditions.
Efficiency through parallel processes
The Suprasetter separates what were previously sequential process steps, thereby reducing throughput times. Productivity is increased thanks to the swivel table with loading and unloading levels that allow parallel loading, imaging, punching and unloading of plates. By adding more laser modules the pure imaging time is reduced. With plate handling times remaining constant this results in a higher total throughput. For the internal punching system, up to three pairs of punches are available in the Suprasetter 74 and up to four configurations in the Suprasetter 105. In automatic mode, the imaged plate is delivered to the processor in portrait format which allows a thinner developer to be used. This saves on space, chemicals and costs.
One automation concept for two families
The Suprasetter and Prosetter CtP series have an end-to-end modular design which allows them to grow with the customer's requirements. The automation components are the same design for both imagesetter ranges. The manual basic units of both these CtP series can be extended and the system as a whole expanded simply by adding a Single Cassette Loader (SCL) or Multi Cassette Loader (MCL). The Single Cassette Loader performs the loading operation, then transports the imaged plate via an integrated conveyor to the online processor for development. The SCL ensures automatic removal of the interleaving sheet and stacks up to 400 sheets in an integrated collection tray. For more flexibility and automation when using multiple formats, the system can be expanded with the new Multi Cassette Loader. This consists of the SCL and a Multi Cassette Container holding up to four cassettes. Each cassette can be loaded with up to 150 plates. The Multi Cassette Loader therefore holds a total of up to 600 printing plates ready for fully automated plate production. A software-controlled system in the Multi Cassette Container automatically loads the appropriate cassette for the required plate format into the SCL. This reduces machine downtimes because cassettes can be exchanged in the Multi Cassette Container while imaging is underway. The installation outlay for additional modules is minimal and installation is performed on site.
Smart Plate Handling ensures flexibility
In many companies, economic success also depends on the overall processing time for jobs. Flexibility is therefore particularly important for jobs that lie outside the normal process. In plate imaging, this could be an unusual plate format, a different type of plate or a plate that needs post-imaging. The Suprasetter therefore provides an intelligent concept for flexible handling of printing plates. Unlike competitors' systems, in the automated version with SCL or MCL the loaders are docked onto the reverse of the imagesetter, allowing the plates to be manually loaded and unloaded. This means the manual plate shaft on the front of the Suprasetter remains freely accessible. A rarely used format can therefore be still loaded manually into the Suprasetter thanks to the Smart Plate Handling concept. Depending on requirements, these plates are either transported automatically into the online processor or output again undeveloped via the plate shaft at the front. This system gives users the automation they need while still allowing the necessary flexibility for working with more than one plate format.
Plate on Demand for the printroom
The new "Plate on Demand" function integrates all current Heidelberg CtP devices (Suprasetter, Topsetter and Prosetter) even more efficiently into the pressroom. To use this function, the operator of the Prinect CP2000 Center does not even need any prior knowledge of the prepress processes. He simply selects the required job on his touchscreen. At the touch of a button, he then starts the plate imaging for the required color separation or the entire job directly via the CtP device. This direct control of plate production is particularly useful during a night shift or for post-production of a printing plate. The prepress operator prepares the jobs as before, the press operator can then look at the job list and if necessary change the order of the jobs later on or select to go directly to the imaging stage by pressing a button on the CP2000 Center. This means the capacity utilization in the printroom determines the plate production from the outset rather than vice versa. The "Plate on Demand" function will be available at the end of the year. Users must have Prinect MetaDimension Version 5.0 and enable the Preset Link option in the Prinect CP2000 Center Version 41 or Prinect Print Center.
Image:
The new Suprasetter CtP imagesetter from Heidelberg with modular design and new laser technology. Flexible automation, high plate throughput and extensive upgrade options ensure a broad range of uses.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberg will be exhibiting three Suprasetter units in different configurations at its drupa booth. Every day there will be four presentations on the Suprasetter in English and German. Journalists are invited to attend the presentations in Hall 2, Industrial Print Area:
German: 1.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.
English: 11.00 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Matthias Hartung
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail:
matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
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