A new six-color Speedmaster CD 74 UV and a Suprasetter A74 from
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) were recently installed
at the newly refurbished marks-3zet waterless printing center in
Mülheim a. d. Ruhr in Germany. As a result, marks-3zet can now
demonstrate all kinds of jobs - from platesetting to waterless UV
printing. A large number of the demonstration jobs at the waterless
printing center will relate to printing plastic cards and foils
because many print shops in this segment prefer waterless offset
printing. marks-3zet is something of a specialist when it comes to
this method of printing. It invented and is the world market leader
for calibrated underpacking sheets, supplies self-adhesive underlay
foils with color schemes, and also sells waterless printing plates
from world market leader Toray.
For over 25 years, marks-3zet has been committed to waterless
offset printing. The new presses from Heidelberg demonstrate the
advantages of this method to impressive effect, with photorealistic
print quality thanks to sharper edges and the use of fine screens.
In addition, waterless offset printing helps the environment
because there is no ink/water balance to adjust and therefore less
paper waste. There are no air emissions resulting from dampening
solution and alcohol either. What's more, quick ink drying enables
rapid finishing.
marks-3zet and Heidelberg are members of the European
Waterless Printing Association and also see the new facility as a
competence center for waterless offset printing. For Heidelberg,
this partnership is a further aspect of its commitment to plastics
and card printing. Six months ago, Heidelberg provided equipment
for the showroom of Mühlbauer in Roding. Mühlbauer is the
leading supplier of finishing and security equipment for plastic
card production. A Speedmaster SM 52 UV with iris printing device
adds the finishing touch to integrated workflows for plastic card
manufacturers.
Waterless offset printing at drupa 2008 with the Speedmaster XL
75 UV
At drupa 2008, marks-3zet will be demonstrating waterless
offset printing at Booth A 46 in Hall 3, on a Speedmaster XL 75
with UV equipment and a Suprasetter A75.
The Heidelberg portfolio includes two press series suitable
for plastics printing - the Speedmaster CD 74 and Speedmaster XL 75
for the production of 48 card repeats and the Speedmaster SM 52 for
24 repeats. Both presses for plastic card production boast many
different configuration options for processing and drying UV inks
and the ability to process a wide range of printing stock
thicknesses, coupled with excellent sheet travel properties. This
demonstrates that Heidelberg presses are just as suitable for
waterless offset printing as they are for conventional wet offset
printing. Leading plastic card manufacturers are using Heidelberg
technology to alternate between wet and waterless offset printing
as required.
Image:
A new Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74-6 UV demonstrates the
benefits of waterless offset printing at the newly refurbished
marks-3zet waterless printing center in Mülheim a. d. Ruhr.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69
E-mail:
hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com