Speedmaster SX 74 5-L. Cuts in makeready times of up to 15 minutes per job also enable cost-effective production of short and very short runs.
“The high level of automation of the Speedmaster enables us to achieve an industrialized process and deliver cost-effective production of the short and very short runs that now predominate,” says Andreas Grüter, owner and Managing Director of Gutenberg Druck AG in Lachen, Switzerland, summarizing the benefits of his new five-color Speedmaster SX 74 with coating unit. The machine replaces a press at Gutenberg Druck from another German manufacturer. It was put into operation in summer 2012, at the same time as a new 1,800 m² (19,375 square feet) building designed in line with the very latest environmental standards. An existing four-color Speedmaster SM 52 will continue to be used for production in the new pressroom.
The Speedmaster SX 74 achieves an average production speed of 13,000 to 14,000 sheets an hour and thus up to 1,000 sheets more than the previous, two-year-old press. “We’ve achieved a huge increase in productivity thanks to much shorter makeready times and higher production speeds,” explains Grüter. “For example, the fully automatic AutoPlate Pro plate changer switches over the entire plate set in just two minutes. During this time, the completed pile can be removed and new paper fed into place. The new machine saves between ten and fifteen minutes of makeready time per job. The reliable sheet travel has also halved jams during setup,” adds Grüter. “The double-width impression cylinder of the old press didn’t offer us any benefits. With the new machine, we can process our wide range of substrates from 60 to 550 gsm perfectly, while repeat jobs can be reproduced with optimum results thanks to the innovative inking unit.”
Grüter with its approximately 25 employees is a full-service provider for graphics products – from consulting and design to graphics and production in digital and offset printing. As well as a photo studio, it has also set up an in-house agency to provide customers from government authorities, industry, and local commercial and trading companies with detailed advice on the creative possibilities. Grüter is confident his investment has created the ideal conditions for future success and for thus continuing the success story of the print shop, which was founded back in 1860.
