Heidelberg Introduces Greater Machine Intelligence with New Speedmaster Generation

In print production, the intelligent use of digital information enables complex processes to be made leaner and more efficient, increasing profitability in the long term.
 
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recognized this potential early on, and has been consistently promoting digital integration ever since it introduced the Prinect print and media workflow in 2000.
 
The new Speedmaster generation to be presented at drupa 2016 can be integrated into this digitized process world more easily and quickly. The new Prinect Press Center XL machine control station not only assumes the role of the digital interface in the workflow here, but also the intelligent human/machine interface, which helps the operator to fully exploit the performance of the machine.
 
“We were ahead of our time when we presented the Prinect Press Center with the wallscreen in 2008,” said Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board and responsible for the Equipment Segment at Heidelberg. “Today, the big displays are almost taken for granted; users value the benefits in daily production and do not want to be without the wallscreen.”
 
Heidelberg is now presenting the next stage of development with the new Wallscreen XL, with a diagonal screen measurement of 65 inches, a resolution of 4K and an even clearer structure. It permits the configuration of individually selected information panels, while new intelligent widgets provide added value. For example, the areas with higher color assignment on the sheet can be indicated based on the prepress data or the “Plate on Demand” function can be used which allows the printer to initiate the exposure of a new printing plate directly from the control station and in this way avoid or minimize downtimes.
 
Along with the new Wallscreen XL, the operating concept has been refined to make it simpler. The user can now operate the new multi-touchscreen and the touchpad using swiping techniques familiar from smartphones or tablets.
 
The Prinect Inpress Control 2, is available in its second generation and boasts much faster measurement. The time until the first measurement has been halved and a further 20% reduction in waste is possible. Specifically for packaging printers, Prinect Inpress Control 2 makes it possible to measure and control print control strips printed on opaque white.
 
Still at the prototype stage when it was presented at drupa four years ago, the evolution of the Anicolor technology will be presented at drupa 2016. Anicolor 2 offers impressive new options such as the Anicolor Booster. This switches to a higher density range at the push of a button. This does away with the need to change ink series or even screen rollers.
 
The range of DryStar LED high-performance drying systems has been further expanded and is now available for the XL series as well as the Speedmaster CX/SX 102. The optimum integration of the systems into the machine and the machine control system permits additional energy savings due to format-specific activation of the LEDs. Energy savings of to 50% are possible depending on the format.
 
“The new generation of the Prinect Press Center will upgrade our entire Speedmaster portfolio. We have therefore refined our Speedmaster fleet to be able to offer our customers the best range for their investment in the digitized future, namely an integrated, stable system consisting of machine, workflow, application technology, consumables and services. Because the only way to make the most of the potential offered by digitized production is through the optimal and intelligent interaction of all these parameters,” Plenz concluded.