Heidelberg has taken the wraps off its new Speedmaster XL 106, a press that features increased printing speeds of 21,000 sheets per hour, with the company saying that it is the world’s fastest sheetfed offset press.
The press’ capabilities also means an annual output of over 100 million prints is now also possible in folding carton production.
According to Heidelberg, this press is a good option for companies producing packaging in the 70 x 100 format, who need ever higher machine outputs and end-to-end automation.
“The increase in printing speed from 18,000 to 21,000 sheets per hour on the Speedmaster XL 106 is especially attractive to these users,” Heidelberg said, adding that the economic benefit is an eight to ten per cent higher net output and – provided the full potential productivity is utilised – amortisation in around two years.
To achieve this, the company has optimised some 200 components throughout the entire system, from feeder to delivery.
For example, two servo motors now drive the feeder directly and, in the delivery, the weight of the gripper bars has been reduced and they have been adapted to the new printing speed to ensure stable and reliable operation.
“Right from its market launch in 2004, XL technology from Heidelberg has set the benchmark in terms of productivity, performance, and reliability for high-end applications in our sector. Heidelberg has continuously enhanced this successful machine platform ever since,” the company’s CEO Dr. Ludwin Monz said.
“With the newly unveiled Speedmaster XL 106, Heidelberg is taking sheetfed offset printing performance to the next level and enabling folding carton manufacturers in particular to become more competitive.”
Cardbox Packaging, an international packaging manufacturer headquartered in the Austrian town of Wolfsberg with over 250 employees, is a pilot user for the new Speedmaster XL 106. The company recently took this high-performance press into operation.
“Competition is fierce on the international packaging market. We make no compromises when it comes to quality, reliability, and keeping to delivery deadlines. Consistently high productivity is a key competitive factor in this regard,” Cardbox Packaging managing director Roland Schöberl said.
“We are therefore delighted to be working with Heidelberg and piloting the new Speedmaster XL 106, currently the world’s fastest sheetfed offset press. Following the start-up phase, we expect it to give us a big productivity boost.”
At the end of the year, to complement the new high-performance press system and optimise the productivity of its postpress operations, Cardbox Packaging will additionally be commissioning two high-output MK Mastermatrix die cutters that have also only just been launched.
Series production of the new Speedmaster XL 106 is scheduled to start in fall 2023, and Heidelberg said further pilot installations will gradually follow over the coming months.
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