The 200th Speedmaster CD 74 UV recently left the
Wiesloch-Walldorf plant of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
(Heidelberg).
Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Member of
the Heidelberg Management Board, responsible for Engineering and
Manufacturing at Heidelberg, presented a certificate to
customer Olegário Fernandes - Artes Gráficas S.A. from
Lisbon, Portugal. This landmark machine - a Speedmaster CD 74
six-color UV press with double coating unit - will enable the print
shop to expand into the new inmold label market and produce inserts
for plastic packagings. Olegário Fernandes's workforce of
over 90 staff prints labels, packagings and leaflets. The print
shop's existing equipment includes three Speedmaster SM 74
presses, two Gallus and two Comco narrow-web label system. The
print shop began operation in 1922 with eleven employees.
Proven UV technology
The Speedmaster CD 74 features integrated UV technology for
UV applications. The UV equipment was developed in tandem with the
press and is thus optimally adapted to the sheet travel. This
concept has proven its worth with a great many specialty users
working with the Speedmaster CD 74 UV, as evidenced by the 200
presses sold in only four years, confirming the leading position of
Heidelberg is this segment. As well as technical benefits, the
integrated UV technology also offers a boost for health and safety
in the shape of the Heidelberg Drystar dryer system. With its
integrated CAN bus, it boasts ease of operation for dryers from the
CP 2000 control station plus safety shutdowns if production is
disrupted. Integrated odor and ink-mist extraction also makes the
Speedmaster CD 74 UV number one in terms of emission values. This
is why it was also the first press to be awarded the
"Optimized UV printing" certificate in 2003 from the
German Institution for Statutory Insurance and Prevention.
Heidelberg's history in developing UV:
1986: Speedmaster CD 102 with coating unit
1992: Speedmaster CD 102 with two coating units
1998: Speedmaster SM 74 with UV preparation
2000: Speedmaster CD 102 as a surface finishing machine
2002: Speedmaster CD 74 with UV configuration
2002: Speedmaster CD 102 Duo press
2004: Speedmaster CD 74 Duo press
2004: Speedmaster CD 74 with sheet reversal and UV technology
2004: Speedmaster CD 102 PresetPlus UV delivery
2006: Speedmaster XL 105 UV
The launch of the Speedmaster CD 74 for UV applications at
the end of 2002 saw Heidelberg embark on a new strategy. Whereas
previously the relevant presses in the various format classes had
been prepared for UV and had then been equipped by partner
companies such as IST METZ GmbH, Nürtingen, the Speedmaster CD
74 was equipped from start to finish with expertise developed
in-house by Heidelberg. From research and development, consulting
and service on the one hand to collaboration with leading system
suppliers on the other, the company is now ideally positioned in
all sectors of UV technology. Heidelberg maintained its new
strategic orientation last year with the market launch of the
Speedmaster XL 105 with UV.
Market development
The market in the UV sector has seen particularly strong
development in the recent past. This is especially true of the
folding carton, label, plastic material, and high-quality
commercial sectors. The leading markets for UV applications are
Asia, particularly Japan, the UK, France, the U.S., and Italy. But
demand is also rising in Germany. This is also reflected in growth
forecasts for the next few years. An average growth rate of seven
percent is forecast for press manufacturers, over ten percent for
dryer manufacturers, and as much as 14.5 percent for ink and
coating manufacturers. The benefits of this technology include
immediate hardening of inks and coatings. With UV drying, the ink
film polymerizes within fractions of a second following radiation
and is then immediately ready for further processing. However, this
process requires special inks that contain completely different
binding agents and additional photo-initiators. Other benefits
include very high gloss when coating, the absence of powder in the
drying process, less waste, maximum durability and thus less wear
of the printing stock.
UV applications enable printshops to broaden their portfolios
and achieve added value, occupy niche markets, boost finishing
quality, and cut delivery times.
Image:
The 200th Speedmaster CD 74 UV went to the print shop
Olegário Fernandes - Artes Gráficas S.A. in Lisbon,
Portugal. The celebrations at the Wiesloch-Walldorf plant of
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG were attended by Paulo Monteiro,
Grafopel, Joao Baeta and Ana Cristina Baeta, Olegário
Fernades, Dr. Walter Stählin and Dr. Jürgen Rautert from
Heidelberg and Rui Monteiro, Grafopel (from left to right).
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hans-Dieter Siegfried
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 63
E-mail:
hans-dieter.siegfried@heidelberg.com