Hailed as the world’s largest heatset commercial press, a 160-page manroland Lithoman is now up and running at Kraft-Schlötels of the WKS Druckholding Group in Germany.
Starting up the Lithoman, from left: Ralph Dittmann, WKS; Bert Schoonderbeek, Contiweb; Eugen Viehof, Vibro-Gruppe; Manfred Winkens, Major Wassenberg; Klaus Viehof, Vibro-Gruppe; Eckhard Hoerner-Marass, manroland
The two-web 80-page press – operated as one 160-page machine with a connecting cutter module – has been 18 months in the making, a joint project between WKS Druckholding and manroland begun at drupa 2012. Ralph Dittmann, manager of WKS, says, “We approached the press technology from the perspective of our customers. We analysed our customers’ needs regarding the flexibility of page numbers, formats and product design, and tried to implement them as far as possible. “As a result a press was developed which on the one hand consists of conventional press components that have never before been combined in this way (two-web 80-page press). On the other hand we also devised our own conceptions on folding technology that have given rise to new designs at press supplier companies. Our new Lithoman press design now reflects our technological concepts regarding flexible and economic production.” He adds, “The Lithoman presses have absolutely proven themselves in daily operation when it comes to printing stability, quality and above all productivity.” Eckhard Hoerner-Marass, managing director of manroland web systems, says manroland was happy to collaborate with the WKS specialists. He says, “WKS had clear ideas on production diversity and the resulting demands on the production process. Our colleagues from sales and design collaborated with WKS in a creative process to draft the press concept. The result: a unique Lithoman press with customised technology.” With the installation of the Lithoman WKS was able to decommission several older systems. It currently produces at sites in Wassenberg and Essen with eight manroland commercial web offset presses ranging from 32 to 80 pages. The new press will mainly be used to produce magazines, catalogues and supplements. The manufacturer says the Lithoman produces up to 50,000 revolutions per hour, features fully-automatic AutomaticPlateLoading and the ClosedLoop systems developed by manroland to control inline fanout, colour and cut-off registers. Veit Müller, executive sales manager at manroland, says, “The two Lithoman presses are operated together since they are equipped with one cutter module. This module was adapted to WKS’ ideas and provides completely new production options. “In addition the newly designed folder superstructure with three formers allows operators to run up to twelve paper ribbons. This combination results in previously undreamt-of productivity and product options. Buzzwords like continuous two-page increments, complete flexibility in register products, a combination of two paper types, up to 500,000 products per hour and format variability have suddenly become reality.”
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