Speedmaster Carbon Footprint Reported

-- Graphic Arts Online, 12/7/2007 9:11:00 AM

Despite fears its would be decimated by cheaper labor from Eastern European competitors, “The German printing industry is stronger than ever before,” said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, at a 10th annual end-of-year press conference in Heidelberg, Germany, this week. He cited the German experience in advising U.S. printers who have trepidation about retooling due to fears of low-cost competitors from Mexico or China, “Just turn around, do the investment.” Schreier said sales to India and China continue at a strong pace, up more than 10%.

The U.S. has economic challenges from the subprime lending crisis, noted Marcel Kiessling, president and CEO of Heidelberg Americas, and the company’s double-digit equipment sales growth (15.2% in fiscal’06, 13.4% in fiscal ’07) will slow in the current year. Noting to the international press gathering that the U.S. is still an export giant—second in the world, at $1 trillion, after Germany, and ahead of China, he expressed optimism the U.S. would avoid recession. “I think there is a pretty good chance we will get control of the situation.”

Kiessling reported that about one-third of the 500 40’’ press units sold in North America by Heidelberg are now XL105s, and that 23% of total North American sales is now parts and consumables. Kiessling cited NAPL figures that show printing sales growth slowing to 2.9% through September 2007 versus 5.9% for the same period last year.

Sustainable print buying trends by printing and packaging buyers was reflected in a lengthy presentation by Dr. Jürgen Rautert, management board member responsible for engineering and manufacturing at Heidelberg. After covering some of Heidelberg’s initiatives for sustainable business operations in manufacturing, Rautert presented an estimate covering the environmental impact, including much of the carbon footprint of a Speedmaster XL105 6-color press with coater.

The example had the press running 36 million sheets for 8,000 jobs, 18 per day. The preponderance of its impact is in paper, which accounted for 4,300 tons of CO2 annually, in consuming 4,059 total tons of paper, about 283 of them in waste.

“There is no reliable source for the CO2 footprint of ink,” noted Rautert, though figures for water, cleaning agents, dryers and even spray powder were calculated. Rautert offered numerous opportunities for reducing a press' carbon footprint, such as moving the infrared dryer (shown here) 1 cm closer to the substrate, which allows it to run at a lower setting using 5% less energy.