Heidelberg to Show Anicolor 2 Technology at drupa

Anicolor short inking technology from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) offers an optimum solution package for the flexible production of short runs. The advantages can be summarized with the formula 90-50-50: Around 90% less waste due to fast and constant inking. It takes just 20 to 30 start-up sheets to reach the correct ink levels for a new order. The result is a 50% reduction in setup times combined with a 50% increase in productivity.

“Our customers have their challenges, and we have the solutions and answers they need in the area of both digital and offset printing,” said Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment.

Heidelberg will be presenting the next generation of Anicolor technology at drupa 2016 with Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor 2 for greater flexibility, speed and productivity. This is achieved with three innovations. The first of these is the Anicolor Booster. This can be activated at the push of a button on the Prinect Press Center and permits a wider range of inks due to an improved setting range for ink density on different printing stocks.

In most cases, this does away with the need to change the ink chamber as was previously required with very absorbent printing stocks. This shortens the setup time in commercial printing since both coated and uncoated paper can now be processed with the same ink series. This benefit is even more pronounced in packaging printing, with its ever-changing spot colors.

Productivity is further increased by the two other innovations. The first of these is a faster washup program that provides for faster ink changes and therefore shorter setup times due to 9,000 revolutions per hour instead of the previous 7,000. As a result, changing color shades can now be achieved up to a minute faster.

The second of these innovations is a function allowing the operator to choose between “standard,” “short,” or even “none” for the ink shut-off time, depending on the color assignment from one job to the next. The shortened ink shut-off saves another 20 seconds, while eliminating it altogether reduces the setup time by 40 seconds.

All of these benefits are enhanced through the use of tested Saphira consumables. With the Saphira Performance Kit Anicolor, the inks are designed for this special application and deliver constant production conditions and reproducible quality for the most demanding orders.

“We presented the Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor as prototypes at drupa 2012. We have sold over 200 printing units since then – split down the middle between commercial and packaging printers,” said Plenz. “At the next drupa we will be showing how easy it can be to complete short production runs quickly, flexibly, and economically using offset printing with the Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor 2.”

At drupa 2016, the Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor 2 will be presented at the IST stand in Hall 2, right in the passage to Heidelberg in Hall 1. The six-color press with coating unit includes full UV functionality. It will show how material costs can be significantly reduced since Anicolor 2 enables UV applications to be processed on expensive, non-absorbent printing stock with very few makeready sheets.