New Products
By Bill Esler -- Graphic Arts Online, 4/1/2008
Stahlfolder KH 82 debuts at drupa with an automatic cross-fold unit that makes ready in two minutes on repeat jobs, says Heidelberg. Its top speed rises to 30,000 cycles per hour, with net output of more than 1,000+ sheets per hour. It lends itself to 7,000-15,000 sheet runs, but its stability suits it for long-run book production. New features include Web-based Remote Service and workflow integration via new Prinect Postpress Manager. The cross-fold servo-powered knife performed 195 million+ cycles in testing. All settings (height, incline, etc.) can be stored; 70 of 86 manual steps required in its predecessor KH 78 have been eliminated or automated. Pneumatically raised front edge wheels pull incoming sheets up against the stop and end rebounding. More www.us.heidelberg.com
ProLoop and ProPunch high-speed, high-volume wire-loop stationery binders from Kugler-Womako will be seen running at drupa (in Hall 11). ProPunch, for paper, board or plastic used in register cards, calendar sheets or loose-leaf dividers, incorporates a new non-stop stacker. The double wire forming ProLoop produces double wire products and now features non-stop spool change. A new C-forming technology forms loops up to 1.5´´ in diameter. www.kpl.net
Alwan Color Expertise will debut a series of ICC color-management software at drupa innovation park, Hall 7/7.0C. The new software builds on Alwan CMYK Optimizer servers, now installed at over 400 printers. Alwan says its use of ICC device and Dynamic DeviceLink profiles makes color management affordable. More www.alwancolor.com
Automatän 6500GL Jogger/Aerator Load Turner aerates and jogs sheets, and inverts piles, to optimize throughput on sheetfed presses. Plover, WI-based Automatän says it has sold seven of them to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the U.S. currency printer, and believes it will place a total of 11 units in between the two BEP locations, four to Washington, DC, and three to its Fort Worth, TX location, with delivery of four more to be determined. The Model 6500GL is used to aerate and align their sheets before going to their presses. The Model 6500GL requires no pit, and has a five-year warranty. While it won't be at drupa, it will be at Graph Expo, Oct. 26-29 in Chicago. More www.automatan.com
NELA 3-Point Punch/Bender and Plate Distribution Unit has been installed at Valassis' Anderson Printing Div. in Livonia, MI. This RAO-M system handles multiple plate sizes at Valassis, which has found demand to quickly store and retrieve plates with minimal operator intervention increased dramatically after it acquired ADVO. NELA (in Hall 8a at drupa) provided an inline punch/bending, storage and retrieval system capable of automatically loading bent plates into plate storage carts. It transports plates from the processor into the bender for one-step punching and bending, and then on to the three-bay Plate Distribution Unit. The automatic plate handling machine transports plates into carts docked right to the unit, or undocked and rolled to presses for plate mounting. More www.nela-usa.com
Xerox 8390 90´´ wide-format printers are compatible with a range of media types and produce vibrant graphics on indoor and outdoor point-of-purchase displays, banners, life-size photos and floor graphics. The printer uses piezo-electric drop-on-demand inkjet heads with 360 nozzle heads per ink channel to deliver higher firing frequencies resulting in faster print speeds. Its Dynamic Variable Dot Size Technology enables superior image quality and delivers lower ink usage versus fixed-dot inkjet technology, says Xerox. Eight ink channels also permit 4-or 6-color ink set choices. Mild-solvent inks produce prints that can last up to four years without lamination. Print resolutions from 360 to 1,440 dpi run at typical-quality production speeds from 162 to 215 sq.ft/hour. More www.xerox.com
Zechini JuniorBinder 1800 short-run glue binding line (shown) will be demonstrated at drupa (Hall 14), including a version capable of operating with PUR glue. The Italian manufacturer will also debut its Vip Book Line. The automated hardbound line is equipped with one or more book sewing machines connected to a nipping press and the end paper machine, back gluing and back lining machine—then to a three-knife trimmer, ribbon inserting machine and book back rounding machine, head tail banding machine, casing in machinery and to the book forming and pressing machine. This line is able to produce up to 1,200 books/hour, binding at 20 books per minute. See these and other offerings at Hall 14, Stand 14 C 04. www.zechini.it/vipbook
Wausau Astrobrights' latest promotion, “A Brave New World of Color,” explores a supposed cult's secret alliance and enemy documents, membership and color philosophy—all printed on papers within the Astrobrights line, including 23 vivid shades, six pearlescent colors (Glisten) and four bright colors of uniquely hammered finish (Textures). “The graphic arts community has used them for years to give counter cards, fliers, posters, hang tags and other product information panache,” says Jeff Fox, marketing director for Wausau Printing and Writing Papers. “We decided to have a little fun, celebrating the brand's cult-like following.” www.wausaupaper.com
EFI PrintFlow will be shown at drupa in its latest iterations for connecting the entire workflow. The EFI Print MIS Connected Workflow Strategy links every part of the print production flow chain to optimize equipment use, thereby increasing capacity, throughput and on-time job delivery. PrintFlow automatically locates the optimal job path based on available equipment, current workload and the status of other job delivery schedules. A real-time Gantt Chart shows all plant jobs in a single window and allows users to manipulate job schedules, and enables operators to create summaries, tasks, links and time lines. An add-on module to other EFI Print MIS solutions, it integrates into Hagen, Logic and PSI for data flow across printing operations. www.efi.com
QualityLogic XPREF, QualityLogic XPS Tools displayed in the XPSLand Showcase at OnDemand Expo in Boston last month will be on view at drupa in Hall 7, Stand E. QualityLogic supplies XPS test and quality assurance products for the print industry. XPS (XML Paper Specification) is the print path and page description format in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office suites. Experts estimate XPS documents will eventually be enabled free of charge on 90% of all desktops. As this change occurs, printers and publishers will need the ability to process these files. QualityLogic's XPREF is a family of cross platform products that provide preflight, workflow automation and document optimization for XPS. More www.qualitylogic.com
Kirk-Rudy WideJet delivers variable-data printing capability to web and sheetfed presses, as well as mail tables (shown). Powered by HP thermal inkjet technology, the WideJet uses HP black pigment ink to print high-resolution images and data at up to 1200 dpi, with a 4.25´´ print swath, or up to four print modules can be combined for a 17´´ swath. It prints up to 600 fpm. Automatic print head capping and wiping minimize clogging and operator intervention. HP's solvent-free ink comes in self-contained bulk cartridges, eliminating hazardous materials protocols or training. See Kirk-Rudy at drupa in Hall 10 at the Chromos stand. www.kirkrudy.com
Draabe DuoPur humidifier combines high-pressure water atomization with a water treatment unit. The system is installed in a portable container that is exchanged by the manufacturer every six months for a completely serviced and disinfected module. It provides “nanofine atomization” spraying water treated by DuoPur directly into the room from up to four NanoFog high-pressure atomizers. This model is designed for CTP and other low-humidity requirement areas. See it at drupa (Hall Hall 16, Stand D43) www.draabe.com
Duplo DuBinder PUR DPB-500 with Nordson glue tank is among a number of offerings that will debut at drupa (Hall 13, B53). The DuBinder single clamp perfect binder handles short runs while having a top cycle speed of 525 bph, making it suitable for longer runs. Duplo will show the DC-645 Production Color Finisher slit, cut and crease machine with new knife folder, and the intelligent DSF-5000 high-speed dynamic document sheet feeder. More www.duplousa.com
Neopost AS-960 desktop inkjet addressing system is rated at 2 million duty cycles per month, making it right for quick print shops. Its six print heads output addresses and graphics at 600 dpi. Compatbile with CASS-certified addressing programs, it handles up to 15x20´´ items. www.neopostinc.com
Rilecart B599 troduct Red automatic double-loop wire binder from Spiel Associates www.spielassociates.coms
