Heidelberg is the only press manufacturer that develops its own dryer systems – individually tailored to each press. DryStar Ink, DryStar Coating, DryStar Combination, and DryStar LY(Y)L ensure you will find the right dryer for any application. Perfect coordination between sheet travel and dryer optimizes drying and quality, even with maximum machine speeds, high ink coverage or challenging coatings. No other system achieves a comparable level of efficiency. Thanks to this highly effective drying, sheets are available for finishing very quickly.
This is the most frequently used Heidelberg dryer and it is indispensable for drying water-based coatings in the extended delivery. The latest DryStar Combination dryer generation delivers twice the output and air volume of its predecessor. The key to this success is a patented array of round jets that apply hot air to the sheets. The small, round jets are distributed over the entire width of the dryer, even between the IR lamps. Applying air over a greater surface area makes drying more effective. In addition, such is the acceleration of the hot air in the DryStar dryer that it is not deflected, even at the highest of production speeds. The jets create an air cushion that effectively counteracts sheet fluttering. Even when switching from heavy to light materials, the basic dryer settings only need to be adjusted slightly. This maximizes both productivity and gloss levels.
If only some jobs are coated and it is not necessary to achieve maximum production speeds, a press with a short delivery and the DryStar Coating dryer is a possible option. This system has only a single module, combining IR lamps and hot air. It is perfect for drying matt and gloss coatings on light or medium-weight cardboard.
The DryStar LY(Y)L dryer from Heidelberg is a versatile solution that can be fitted between the units and in the drying units. It dries the primer applied in the first coating unit before another layer of coating is applied in the second coating unit. This enables UV coatings to be applied to conventional inks. Gold, silver, metallic or functional coatings and combinations of matt and gloss coatings can also be used.
An energy-saving function recirculating hot air is available on the DryStar LY(Y)L of the Speedmaster XL 106. Instead of routing used hot air outdoors immediately after drying, up to 30 percent of it is channeled back into the drying process – always in such a way as not to affect drying. This saves precious energy.
Instant Start minimizes waiting times and boosts your productivity. If you use cleaning agents on a press featuring IR interdeck dryers, you have to comply with strict requirements designed to prevent the risk of explosions. Until now, this has meant switching off all dryers before starting a washup program. This caused long waits to let the IR dryers cool down, suction off solvent emissions after washing, and then turn the dryers back on. With Instant Start, there are no costly waiting times when washing the blanket.
With the DryStar Advanced software, it is possible to save all dryer settings with the job and call them up again next time round at the touch of a button. This saves a great deal of time, especially with complex dryer configurations.
The Advanced package also delivers a major value-add by allowing more convenient, more comprehensive control, such as infinite adjustment of lamp output, setting of the sheet guide plate temperature, and maintaining a constant hot-air temperature independently of the flow rate.
The heat recovery system for DryStar Combination dryers from Heidelberg recycles the heat from the exhaust air, feeding it into the fresh air supply and reusing it for the drying process.
Heat Recovery
