When the opportunity to replace their ageing fleet of offset presses presented itself, Keystone Paper Box & Co. turned to Manroland Sheetfed and the Evolution printing press to fill their production capacity and leap to a new press technology level.
Keystone’s ROLAND 700 Evolution Speed is equipped with the latest UV technology with unique embellishment through an InlineFoiling system with indexing and multi-reel foils, coupled with a litany of automation features.
Keystone, located in South Windsor, CT and founded in 1944, embodies a family-owned business’s tradition, attributing much of their success to providing a superior buying experience coupled with best-in-class product quality.
Jim Rutt, President, and owner of Keystone Paper & Box commented, ‘After researching three of the significant press vendors, we opted for Manroland Sheetfed and the Evolution Speed press. The press’s technology from the colour control and quality systems, the autonomous make-ready features, and more importantly, a fully integrated factory solution for cold foiling, gives Keystone a competitive advantage.’
The Evolution Speed packaging press is fully optioned, equipped as an eight-colour with the 20,200 sph maximum rated speed. Both cardboard and smart-card performance packages for quick-changeover and ease of operation are included. It is further equipped with Simultaneous Plate Loading (SPL), which provides Keystone with the autonomous make-ready changeover of exchanging all printing plates in under one minute while simultaneously washing up the blanket and impression cylinder.
Bob Papa, Vice-President of Operations, noted, ‘When I was first introduced to the new state-of-the-art Manroland EVO Speed, it certainly caught my attention. Once we took a deeper dive into the features, it became apparent that this machine addresses fast make-ready speeds and low waste in our critical short-run segment.’
Additionally equipped with Manroland Sheetfed’s UV-Total Flexibility package, Keystone is prepared to place Select-Dryer components at any of its eight print positions.
Rutt further commented, ‘An integrated solution that offers savings we can pass on to our customers by indexing with full or multi-reel set-ups is a game-changer for us. The lowest savings percentage is 16% for the cylinder gap and upwards of 60% (layout dependent) with any variable in between.’
One of the critical factors for Keystone included the Ecologic Pilot. This feature produces on-demand reports of the kWh utilisation on the press.
Keystone’s requirements also included knowing their next press investment had to be the fastest production and make-ready press available. With the InlineColorPilot system for colour quality and control, Manroland Sheetfed delivers an autonomous system. There is no requirement to remove a sheet from the delivery to calibrate the system or create an OK sheet; it can be done in the press through the inline system.
Keystone’s latest press addition comes equipped with OKBalance, a system developed to measure the solid tones, 50% half-tones, grey balance mid-tone, and grey balance solid tone of the overprint.
This provides Keystone with the capability to print to grey balance. The single most effective measurement on the press considers more than 80% of the potential colour variations possible, caused by paper, ink, water and press temperature. The system’s visual metrics will keep Keystones colour control balanced to the OK sheet, taking into account variations of colour/grey balance.
The Evolution Speed will be supported with Manroland Sheetfed’s ProServ360 programme with quarterly inspections and production monitoring through the exclusive TopAnalysis programme, where the production and press performance is reported every 30 days and processes in and around the press are continually monitored to optimise press performance.
MANROLAND SHEETFED
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