Offset Printing
Suttle-Straus Expands Offerings with Heidelberg
Monday 16. September 2019 - Suttle-Straus, located in Waunakee, Wisconsin, is now able to offer more capabilities and expand into new markets through the installations of the Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75-5+L with Anicolor Technology and the Easymatrix 106 CS.
Offset Press to Satisfy Short-Run Work
As more customers request short-run work, Suttle-Straus needed a press that was able to satisfy clients medium-sheet format, while also keeping up with the companys demanding schedule. According to Ted Norman, Director of Manufacturing at Suttle-Straus, “Ive been watching Anicolor technology grow the last several years, and I knew that when we had the opportunity to bring this technology into our company, it would be game-changing. With our customers needs changing, I knew that this press was the machine we needed to keep up with these high demands.”
Running at maximum speeds of 15,000 sheets per hour, the Speedmaster XL 75-5+L with Anicolor technology has an extremely fast inking unit, which is designed to print offset quality at peak productivity for cost-efficient short-runs. According to Norman, “We now have the option of choosing whether we are going to print through digital or offset based on best economic value.”
One of the main contributors of Anicolors economic benefits is the waste paper savings of up to 90%. Suttle-Straus can expect their job to be ready to run in 5-20 sheets, decreasing their makeready times by about 50%. Shorter makeready times are also achieved thanks to reliable and fully automatic plate changes with AutoPlate Pro, which controls precise plate feeding and identification for exact and fast registration. During plate changes, the operator can perform other tasks while the plates are being changed.
“One of the biggest advantages of all of the automation on the press is the ability to easily train the workers of tomorrow on the press,” said Norman. “The technology is so advanced that the individual qualifications of the operator is less of an issue, and we are able to train someone to work the press efficiently and to produce the highest quality very quickly.”
High Precision Diecutter to Expand Productivity
With an aging diecutter, Suttle-Straus had limited capabilities forcing the company to send a lot of work to a partner vendor. While quality was still high, Suttle-Straus lost a lot of control and timing of its diecutting work, which led the company to the Easymatrix 106 CS.
The Easymatrix runs at speeds of up to 7,700 sheets per hour and gives Suttle-Straus even shorter makeready times thanks to the intuitive touchscreen interface, along with the motorized cutting pressure adjustment and quick-lock technology for dies and stripping tools. With a full 41″ format and non-stop functionality in the feeder and delivery, longer runs can be processed efficiently.
According to Norman, “When we did the math, it made sense to bring diecutting in-house. We are now able to have our employees control the quality and timing of our diecutting work on the Easymatrix, which will allow us to offer our customers more products at lower costs. Were very excited to see where we will be in the next couple of years due to these new pieces of equipment from Heidelberg.”