Heidelberg Introduces 29-Inch Option for Digital Market Run Lengths

Heidelberg is making a move into the future of digital offset printing with its game-changing Anicolor technology, now available in the 23 x 29”, 6-up size.

This is an ideal solution for printing service providers looking to grow their business in the 29” short-run segment. Anicolor technology combines the advantages of traditional offset with those of digital:

• Break-even to inkjet/e-ink based systems at less than 500 29” sheets.
• Printing speeds up to 1,500 8.5×11” sheets per minute or 15,000 23×29” sheets per hour.
• Compatibility with standard consumables at competitive prices means no forced choices for your consumables.
• Full substrate flexibility from onionskin to 32pt board, and up to three 11×17” tabloid panels.

“The 29” XL 75 Anicolor elevates the concept we call Digital 2.0 to a completely new level,” said Harald Weimer, president of Heidelberg USA. “This new reality extends the benefits of Anicolor technology from the 20-inch environment into the 29-inch arena, and highlights the many exciting and potentially lucrative opportunities awaiting printers who want to capitalize on the global trend toward the printing of shorter runs with more frequent job changes in medium format. Especially for those who may be considering a 29” digital device, Heidelberg’s new Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor press enables creativity and productivity in equal measure – without compromising the unique advantages of the offset process.”

Proven since 2006 for the Speedmaster SX 52, Heidelberg’s 20” platform, the Anicolor inking unit now is also available for the Speedmaster XL 75, extending the range of applications into larger sheet formats. As such, the XL 75 with Anicolor inking technology is the optimum solution for the cost-efficient production of short- and very short runs in 29” format for commercial, label, package printing and point-of-purchase applications.

Anicolor technology is a revolutionary inking unit that reduces makeready waste to a bare minimum in terms of time and paper. Sellable quality can be achieved in as little as 10 sheets, with makeready times around six minutes per form. All the while, the user retains the proven advantages of the offset platform. The fully customizable XL 75 Anicolor is available in four- to 10-color straight and perfecting configurations.

The XL 75 Anicolor also provides a number of key advantages over 29” digital production devices. With superior color management, significantly higher production speed, and incredibly short makereadies, the XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press opens the door to a huge variety of value-added applications with substantial profit potential. Cost-conscious print service providers can tap those added profits without the click charges commonly incurred during the lease of digital printing equipment. Compatibility with standard inks means that the savings per sheet can be as significant as 90%, compared with inkjet/e-ink based devices.