Heidelberg has reported that its customer Papierwerk Landshut Mittler has invested in Heidelberg printing machinery to expand its business.
Targeting further growth, Papierwerk Landshut Mittler was the first folding carton printer last year to invest in a Speedmaster XL 75-7+L from the new 2020 generation. A new Diana Smart 115 folder gluer from the partner MK Masterwork completed the investment in the latest packaging solutions from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). Using state-of-the-art and innovative technologies makes it possible to combine top quality and high productivity.
‘To enable us to produce the best folding cartons for our customers, we’re constantly on the lookout for the most innovative equipment,’ explained Günther Berninghaus, the third generation of the family to manage Papierwerk Landshut Mittler. ‘Our slogan ‘Beyond the box’ says so too, and we’re proud that we’re still independent.’ The trained letterpress printer and printing engineer has worked in the company for 40 years, and says he has ‘always invested in the right machines’.
The partnership between Heidelberg and Papierwerk Landshut Mittler goes back decades, and has benefitted both sides. For example, Papierwerk Landshut Mittler was one of the first concept customers in 1992. As a field test customer, Papierwerk Landshut Mittler has been involved in several major projects with Heidelberg – whether the expansion of the substrate range and the first coating unit in the Speedmaster SM 52 or the Prinect Inpress Control inline colour and quality measurement system on the Speedmaster CD 74.
Other field tests were conducted on the Prinect Press Center XL 3 and its LED daylight lamp, which Berninghaus said makes it easier to approve sheets by simply switching from D50 (5000K daylight) to D65 (6500K daylight). Papierwerk Landshut Mittler has focused on the medium-size format 50 x 70 for many years. In the press room you will now find a Speedmaster XL 75-6+L from 2008 as well as a Speedmaster XL 75-5+L that was added three years ago and most recently the Speedmaster XL 75-7+L from the 2020 generation one year ago. All three presses run at a speed of 18,000 sheets per hour and have a sheet format of 605 x 750mm (23.82” x 29.53”), which is perfect for packaging companies.
Prior to its most recent investment, Papierwerk Landshut Mittler had scoured the printing press market and was also considering a change to the next bigger format. It soon turned out, however, that another Speedmaster XL 75 was the best solution. What clinched it were the innovative solutions in the new 2020 generation – the clear operating concept with the new Heidelberg User Experience (UX), the good accessibility, and the high print quality thanks to the perfectly optimised inking unit for this press series. The large diameters of the cylinders ensure that the cardboard is transported smoothly through the press.
‘We consider ourselves in a good position with the three almost identical presses from Heidelberg. The printers can work on all the presses, we operate a standardised printing process, and can offer our customers fast production with zero defects,’ said Berninghaus. ‘The medium-size format is the perfect fit for us as well at the moment. This is confirmed by our profitability calculations. We have faster set-up times, greater colour stability, and uniformity of colours over the entire sheet, which helps us with the many gang runs we have.’
All of the presses have a service agreement in place and the Heidelberg technicians are held in high regard at Papierwerk Landshut Mittler. The washing fluids and aids are from the Saphira range.
Print shop manager Günter Zöttl keeps an eye on the productivity gains offered by the three presses. The new Speedmaster XL 75 is 30 percent more efficient than the 2008 press. It is also five percent more efficient that the 2018 one. All in all, what sets the new 2020 generation press apart is its reliability, stability, quality and good accessibility. ‘When I ask my printers what their favourite press to work on is, it’s always the new Speedmaster,’ confirmed Zöttl. ‘They’re big fans of the new operator guidance system, and the new touchscreen makes their work more direct and straightforward.’ The company is also taking advantage of the navigated printing: Intellistart 3 compares two jobs and suggests the best production approach to the printer. Intelliline, the system of optical guidance by means of LED strips on the printing units, provides outstanding navigation and support for the assistance system.
Spot colours account for 80 percent of the inks used at Papierwerk Landshut Mittler and the colourfulness of the jobs is on the increase, which means frequent colour changes. This is now much easier with the new Wash Assistant and its artificial intelligence. The Wash Assistant selects the right washup programme for the inking unit and dampening system, blanket and impression cylinder based on corresponding job and press parameters. When washing ink rollers, it can, for example, identify when switching from a dark colour to a light one and initiates the optimal washup programme. If necessary it can even automatically initiate deep cleaning. Apart from saving time, this also saves washing fluid and washup cloths. Any inking units not needed are continuously supplied with roller protection liquid by the new ‘Auto Protect’ function. Once ink is added again, the roller protection is removed fully automatically in the Intellistart 3 workflow without any input from the operator.
Heidelberg Graphic Systems Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd
086 142 4756
warren.jones@heidelberg.com
www.heidelberg.com/za
