LFP - Large-Format-Printing

Bedruckbar AG relies on flatbed technology by Agfa Graphics

Monday 26. May 2014 - Bedruckbar AG from Bern invested in a new Jeti 3020 Titan of Agfa Graphics last year. Kreativ visited with Stefan Ingold and asked about the reasons why the company selected this particular machine. Because Bedruckbar is more than just a printing service provider.

Bedruckbar AG emerged from the company Denz Digital AG, which has been headquartered in Bern for almost 100 years. After working for Denz for 25 years, Stefan Ingold acquired 100% of both companies’ shares two years ago. The basis for the high degree of customer satisfaction is due, among other things, to the fact that Denz has always been a technology leader, using machines and devices of the latest generation. Denz and Bedruckbar are a full-service agency that professionally handles everything from A to Z for customers.
Bedruckbar leaves nothing unprinted and prints, cuts, plots and molds just about everything that customers can think of. The offer ranges from the smallest format in the size of a business card to building cladding. The company has been active in this area for almost 18 years – first in small format, then more and more in large-format digital printing. For niche products, there is a screen printing machine available in 70×100 cm format.
Innovation and creativity for visual experiences
Although the advertising and signage company identifies its core competency as printing with its slogan “Everything is Bedruckbar” (play on words: “everything is Printable”), printing in the traditional sense is only a small part of the creative company’s offer. The company also designs, develops, plans, photographs, cuts, screws, assembles… and, recently, also prints in 3D. Bedruckbar produces visual experiences – this is the most fitting manner of describing the offer.
“We specialize in the special,” says Stefan Ingold. Ideas from all creative sectors are implemented.
To this end, Bedruckbar prints and imprints all sorts of large-format objects, from posters and textiles to corrugated cardboard carton and magnet sheets to wood, styropor, and even concrete, bubble wrap and corrugated sheet metal. One large area of application is shop fitments, i.e. the production of decorative elements, 3D displays, etc. “We first create prototypes and models and then manufacture the POS shop decoration.”
For Stefan Ingold it is also important to mention that Denz/Bedruckbar cares about the environment – something that is especially important in the advertising and signage/LFP and possible – everything is printed in a climate-neutral manner. “Our company is constantly growing, and we need more energy and material. That’s why we want to take care of the environment,” says Ingold.
Due to the consistently increasing demand as well as intermittent production bottlenecks, Stefan Ingold sought a way to increase capacities in the flatbed area. Ingold expected further volume increases due to a migration of the production processes to the new flatbed printer. The time for additional investment had arrived.
And thanks to the increased amount of space after the move/consolidation of Denz Digital AG and Bedruckbar AG – two production sites could be consolidated into one location – the required capacity was created.
Initially, the focus wasn’t even on an Agfa machine. Various flatbed printing systems were examined during a trade fair visit to drupa 2012.
Reliability in every aspect
“We employ about 45 people, and reliability is an important criterion – for both people and machines.”
During the evaluation of various providers in the flatbed area, attention was turned to Agfa – a provider that Ingold knew from before. What was – and remains – decisive for Ingold was not only pure machine performance but also adequate support and a clear roadmap regarding future product development. In this respect, Ingold found a reliable partner in Agfa. A company with long-standing expertise – in other areas of the printing business as well. After a brief evaluation phase and inspection, the winner was the Agfa Jeti 3020 Titan.
Thanks to various print head configurations, the high-production system can be adapted to the most varied of environments and requirements. The Agfa Jeti wide-format printer family is designed for three-shift operation and features a stable steel frame construction, state-of-the-art functionality and high production speeds, paired with high resolution and the best printing At Bedruckbar, the selection fell on a configuration with 48 print heads for the Jeti 3020 Titan. For example, the system is equipped with eight sets of CMYKLcLm toners for optimal speed and productivity. The key elements of the Jeti 3020 Titan – productivity, reliability and longevity – fully come into effect at the Bern-based printing service provider. The maximum printing size of 3.2 x 2 m in the flatbed configuration could be refitted by the FTR configuration (“Flat To Roll”) so that even roll media can be printed. The design and construction of the flatbed enable easy loading and unloading of the media, with the Jeti 3020 Titan being able to start the printing both from the front as well as from the back.
Markus Rolli, the machine operator responsible for the Titan at Bedruckbar, has the following to say about the new flatbed machine: “The principle of the movable table enables extremely high precision.”
Thanks to the exact positioning of the individual drops, even the most demanding applications, including lenticular printing, can be produced.
The high-pigment, UV-curable Anuvia inks enable the highest degree of color accuracy and, thanks to a low curing threshold, also direct printing on thin and temperature-sensitive substrates.
The Jeti 3020 Titan combines a robust architecture with user-friendly design and functions. The system is constructed so that it can adapt to the company’s growing requirements. For Stefan Ingold, a decisive factor in the purchase decision was the investment’s sustainability, which allows him to switch to the next stage of expansion of the Jeti Titan 3020 if needed. Although the printer is already fully equipped with 48 heads, special applications or additional colors as well as new format and speed requirements could play a role in the future.
Stefan Ingold’s conclusion for the Agfa Jeti 3020 Titan: “The high printing quality in combination with high speed has proven entirely true. What’s more, the first-class precision quality also impressed me.”
“The Jeti Titan is a machine with an optimal price/performance ratio with high-quality printing and speed. However, for us the most important aspect is Agfa’s on-site service organization. Because what’s a ‘super-machine’ worth to me if it doesn’t produce due to defective support…”