PFFC - August 2008 - (Page 24)

C&BR products begin on p26. Carton & Box CAR T & BOON EXP AX EDITNDED ION C AR TO N & BOX Folding Cartons | Set-Up & Corrugated Boxes | Gable-Top Cartons | Aseptic Cartons | uptime. Then there is quality control of the printed sheet at full press speed. New camera systems can detect even the smallest print defects and mark defective sheets for later analysis. All of these features add up to greater productivity. u Improved ease of use | Packaging Buzz at Drupa Was Large—Very Large By Jörg Dähnhardt, Heidelberg USA ackaging was certainly to delivery based on this a hot topic at Drupa information. They can store this year, with new specific job functions for technologies on display repeat jobs and automatically for all areas. Perhaps the most adjust dryer settings. For color buzz came from the largest and register adjustments, new machines—very large format in-line measurement systems (VLF) presses that are defined use photospectrometry to as larger than 41-in. sheet width read the color bar and even but typically 50 in. and more. handle spot colors. Once jobs It’s important to utilize time are complete, new technology efficiently in the pressroom allows for simultaneous while gaining greater control wash-up procedures for over the entire printing and blanket cylinders, impression manufacturing process. This is cylinders, and inking where VLF comes in. The prounits—resulting in major ductivity increase potential for time savings. shops that invest in the latest VLF technology is astounding, u Higher and more reliable despite the upfront cost. Major productivity on a broader technology innovations can derange of substrates | liver benefits to converters due Benefits from new technologies can be seen to their impact on three areas: when the press is running. u Faster makereadies | Digital Air settings are available integration has a significant that are speed compensated impact on makeready time. and even can be dynamic, The latest VLF technologies meaning air is adjusted based recognize factors such as on the distance from paper paper weight and size and to sheet guide plate. Wash-up are designed to automatically cloths can be changed during adjust air settings from feeder production for improved 24 | AUGUST 2008 P Many older VLF presses are being operated via a keyboard where the operator has to jump from function to function. In the latest systems, touchscreens and process-oriented software eliminate this process. New software can determine the setup of the next job based on presets from the previous job and create an optimized makeready sequence, delivering greater consistency from job to job, shift to shift, and plant to plant. What do all of these technology advances ultimately mean for package printers? The answers can be found in the bottom line. New technologies have the potential to shorten a six-color makeready (including wash-up) on a VLF press to less than 30 min. For an average shop, 1 min of makeready time saved can mean an annual savings of $25,000; 15 min saved on each makeready can mean annual savings of up to $400,000. When you consider the combination of benefits from all new innovations, there’s a savings potential equating to several million dollars over the life of the press. Workflow also plays a major role in optimizing the process. Today’s VLF presses are fully JDF/JMF-enabled and allow for an immediate analysis of every shift. This is what packaging manufacturers need to identify bottlenecks and other problem areas and to keep shops running at optimal speed. To realize the full potential for savings and productivity in package printing, converters must remember that changes in the pressroom mean changes on the finishing side. Companies should evaluate their postpress equipment to ensure they have the ability to keep up with larger platform sizes (upgrading the width by a little over an inch can allow up to 10% more images/impressions on the sheet) and increased productivity. Replacing even four- to six-year old equipment with the latest VLF innovations can increase productivity by more than 20%. JDF-enabled automated cutters, die-cutters, and folder/gluers make the most of increased volume associated with VLF presses for both operator efficiency and maximum uptime. Jörg Dähnhardt is director of sheetfed product management, Very Large Format, for Heidelberg USA. An engineering graduate of the Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg, Dähnhardt earned his master’s degree at the Instituto de Empresa, Madrid, Spain, and the Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile. Contact him at 770-794-6196; joerg. daehnhardt@heidelberg.com. WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - August 2008

PFFC - August 2008 Table of Contents First Glance Calendar of Events From the Editor Web Lines Process Management News Clips Carton & Box Reporter Carton & Box What’s New Products Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Cover - Show Preview - Labelexpo Labelexpo Floor Plan Conference Program Digital Printing Gravure Printing Bagmaking What’s New Products Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index Experience Speaks

PFFC - August 2008

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