Consumables
Baldwin Systems Shape The Future Of Press Control Automation
Saturday 07. June 2008 - Baldwin Technology Company, Inc. celebrates its 90th anniversary at Drupa 2008. For nine decades, the companys products and solutions have stood for technological progress in many areas of the print peripherals market. Baldwin has always delivered systems designed to improve print quality, productivity and cost efficiency, which has led to a high level of press automation and process improvement across a wide range of print sectors.
Manufacturers of peripheral press systems have to develop integrated solutions in order to make further improvements to productivity and process stability, and Baldwin meets these challenges with a consistent manufacturing strategy that takes into account recent trends for sustainability. The new developments presented at Drupa 2008 demonstrate the priority Baldwin gives to creating environmentally-friendly solutions and resource-saving manufacture of printed products.
Baldwin offers a one-stop source of solutions for a great number of peripheral offset press functions. The company covers the sheet-fed, commercial web, newspaper and semi-commercial sectors with the following product and service propositions:
Cleaning systems comprise a seamless programme of automatic cleaning technologies for blanket and print cylinders plus guide, ink and chill rollers. Whether they require cloths, brushes or cleaning via the paper web, customers in all print market sectors can choose the Baldwin cleaning solution that bests suits their business, economic and press requirements. As part of Baldwins manufacturing strategy, automatic paper web dust removal is also included in the range.
Fluid and temperature systems are modular solutions for preparing, cooling, recycling and filtering dampening solution, and also extend to integrated management. In this product sector, Baldwin offers a seamless portfolio for all performance and capacity requirements across all sectors of the offset printing market, including solutions for reduced alcohol or alcohol-free offset printing.
Spray dampening systems are already standard in the newspaper and semi-commercial market. However, Baldwins spray dampening systems are also attracting interest in the commercial web sector.
Web security systems comprise a product sector that targets security across all performance categories in commercial web, newspaper and semi-commercial print. Included are web separation and clamping units and fast-reaction web catching units for web presses.
In-line finishing systems meet todays high expectations in terms of quality and operation security during silicon application and in-line fold gluing on web presses.
Drying systems bring to bear Baldwins full expertise for sheet-fed printing applications. The drying systems improve quality and cost efficiency for demanding production processes such as varnishing, printing with more than four-colors and single- and double-sided printing in a single pass.
Press consumables offer a differentiated programme of finely tuned consumables for cleaning equipment and in-line gluing systems, which support Baldwin systems installed in all market sectors.
Service solutions ensure maximum availability of production equipment and systems. Baldwins robust global service infrastructure supports customers effectively worldwide, with customized service packages and a fast response to problems.
Organic growth, acquisitions and partnerships
Baldwin was founded in 1918 on Long Island, USA. In every single decade since then, the company has introduced groundbreaking product developments to the market. Geographical expansion supported the growth of the product portfolio: in 1968, Baldwin set up a branch in Japan. Baldwin went to Germany in 1971, Great Britain in 1980 and China in 1990. In parallel with the development of existing product and system ranges, and in response to the needs of the industry, Baldwin is building a unique market position worldwide through acquisitions. As early as 1995, the company extended its product portfolio for the first time in the newspaper sector by acquiring the Acrotec/Jimek group.
In recent years, Baldwin has enhanced its position in the market through key acquisitions: in November 2006, the company announced the takeover of Oxy-Dry, manufacturer of blanket and cylinder brush cleaning equipment, then in April 2007, it purchased Swiss Hildebrand Systems, manufacturer of contact-free paper web dust removal equipment.
Partnerships and alliances are another part of the strategy. For example, Baldwin works in the area of untreated water processing and micro-filtration of dampening solutions with FALK GmbH, Germany. It has had a long and successful association with Robatech AG, working with its in-line gluing and fold-gluing technologies. The WebTack systems of this renowned Swiss glue technology specialist are sold exclusively by Baldwin within the worldwide graphics industry market.
Skills focus across the world
Baldwin, with headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut, has had a strategy of creating a network of centers of excellence for some years. Each of these centers is devoted to new developments for specific press operations and functions. In this respect, production, research and development are mutually inspiring, and feedback from end users and press manufacturers can quickly be implemented in the shape of further innovations. Accordingly, systems can be produced via a decentralized structure at various sites close to local markets.
A significant milestone in terms of the presence of Baldwin in the European market was reached when it opened a centre of excellence for sheet-fed and commercial web products in Friedberg in Augsburg, Germany in October 2006. This centre works on cleaning systems for sheet-fed and commercial web printing, as well as water, dampening solution and temperature management and in-line finishing and press security systems for web presses. Also based in Germany is the former Oxy-Dry GmbH in Egelsbach, Hessen, which is now Baldwins centre of excellence for brush cleaning systems.
There are two centers of excellence in Sweden: Baldwin Jimek in Arlöv devotes itself to the development and manufacture of automatic cloth cleaning systems and spray dampening units for newspaper and semi-commercial applications, whereas Baldwin IVT in Tranas produces infra-red dryers and combination IR/hot air dryers for the sheet-fed market.
The fact that Baldwin is represented in all major print markets by its own business and service branches is a significant factor in its progress towards an international market position. A quick look at the world map shows that Baldwin is also a true partner to the global printing industry in the areas of service and support. Baldwin – 90 years young, and as fresh as ever in developing and improving solutions that make the life of the offset printer much easier.