Offset Printing
Heidelberg unveils the Prinect Press Center, its new high-performance control station for all Speedmaster presses
Monday 10. March 2008 - Control center for effective press operation Intellistart function raises productivity and reliability during job changes Wallscreen provides a comprehensive process overview and displays the entire print sheet Improved usability thanks to delivery touchscreen and jogwheel Measuring systems and Prinect Integration Manager are perfectly coordinated with the high-performance control station
From drupa 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be equipping all its Speedmaster presses (all formats) with a new, standardized high-performance control station – the Prinect Press Center. This will result in uniform operator guidance for all Speedmaster presses. The basic technology for the Prinect Press Center is provided by the new decentralized Sheetfed Control platform.
The Prinect Press Center combines press operation with color and register control in a single, central console. This makes it possible to control and regulate all operating and control functions of Speedmaster presses centrally as well as to perform all required tasks from job preparation and press setup to print sheet evaluation.
In addition, the operator has a permanent overview of the press startup process and the activation/deactivation process for printing, dampening, inking, and coating units. It is also possible to preset the printing speed, record OK sheets and waste, control sheet travel, and regulate dryer settings and the quantities of blast and suction air.
“By developing its own press control system, Heidelberg has become an established innovation leader in the industry. With the new Prinect Press Center, the company is once again raising the productivity of its Speedmaster presses and making its mark in design terms, too. At the same time, Heidelberg has created the technological basis for further innovations in the years ahead,” says Dr. Jürgen Rautert, member of the Heidelberg Management Board, responsible for products and technology.
Improved productivity thanks to Intellistart
The new Intellistart process-oriented operator guidance system can make Speedmaster presses even more productive. While one job is being printed, the operator can already be preparing the next. By using all the relevant data for both the current and the next job, 70 percent fewer steps are needed to set up the press for this next job. Depending on the number of jobs and their complexity, annual production capacities can be increased by up to eight percent.
Wallscreen delivers an innovative edge
The wallscreen, a large screen integrated into the extraneous light screen, gives press operators an unprecedented overview of all press processes. The Speedmaster presses can be shown in cut-out profile with all functions depicted dynamically. The wallscreen also supports print approval processes. The print sheet is displayed with ink zones depicted in their actual width and the color separations can be displayed individually. Operators can use the wallscreen to control a whole range of additional Heidelberg applications, including Prinect Cockpit and the Machine Components Scout.
Control station and measuring system form a single unit
The new control station is perfectly coordinated with the Heidelberg color measuring and control systems and sheet inspection system. Setting data is adopted directly and the press operator can use measuring results immediately to help ink up and get into register quickly and correct any deviations from reference values.
User-friendly operation helps produce good results
The user-friendly control station makes the operators life easier and helps prevent operating errors, thereby safeguarding quality. For example, the operator can adopt all the systems job and presetting data for the press from the Prinect workflow during job preparation using a 19-inch touchscreen display. The new standard daylight lamp optimizes sheet illumination and a generously proportioned sheet deposit area makes it easier to check results.
If the Speedmaster press has a high-pile delivery, this is equipped with a touchscreen and a jogwheel. The touchscreen can be used to select and adjust the delivery blast air, overdampening, dryers and powder application. All air settings can be made by turning the jogwheel.
Integration into the Prinect workflow results in reliable data management
The Prinect Press Center forms an integral part of the Prinect workflow.
Integration with other areas makes it possible to request job data, adopt presetting data and initiate processes. The settings for repeat jobs are saved in the system and can be called up directly at the Prinect Press Center. The press operator is also able to obtain an overview of all upcoming print jobs thanks to transparent job scheduling on the display. The fact that the Prinect Press Center provides Prinect Pressroom Manager and the management information system (MIS) with feedback on all current status messages ensures immediate and complete production data acquisition.