Complete CtP solution for SMEs
Heidelberg Computer-to-Plate introduces new CtP and workflow solutions for small- and medium-format printing.
Computer to Plate Heidelberg presents new CtP and workflow solutions for small and medium formats Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is responding to the needs of traditional SME print shops by expanding its thermal CtP platesetter family with the Suprasetter A52/A74. According to Management Board member Jürgen Rautert, these smaller and medium-sized commercial print shops expect "a reliable, high-quality and future-oriented platesetter with thermal technology that is suitable for the mostly smaller print formats".Expansion of the "A-Class "Although Heidelberg has not compromised on the quality of the platesetters, the new platesetters in the same configuration are offered at around 20 to 30 percent less than the faster Suprasetter S74/H74, which is designed for higher throughput and also developed and manufactured entirely by Heidelberg. Conceptually, the new platesetters complement the Suprasetter A105, which was presented at the Ipex trade fair in April. The A105 is also an entry-level solution, but for large format.
Product Manager Andreas Forer cites the small space requirement as one of the advantages of the newly introduced A52/A74 platesetters, which are available immediately. He emphasizes that the Suprasetter A52/A74 is the most space-saving, fully automatic CtP platesetter in its class. At the same time, the Suprasetter A52/A74 is not a slimmed-down version in terms of quality. The finest resolutions up to 160 raster (400 lpi) can be output. If supported by the software, frequency-modulated screens (FM) and Heidelberg's hybrid screen Prinect Hybrid Screening can be imaged in addition to normal screens (AM).
Of particular interest to SMEs is the fact that the platesetters can initially be purchased as Suprasetter A52s and therefore for the small format. If the print shop opts for the next larger medium format, it can upgrade the platesetter to Suprasetter A74 simply by installing new (chargeable) software. In addition to the format, the platesetter can also grow with the plate handling. It is possible to order the platesetter as a manual CtP system and later upgrade it to a fully automatic unit by installing an Auto Top Loader. "In this way," says Forer, "print shops can gain experience with direct imaging and thermal technology and decide to upgrade to a fully automatic machine at any time as plate volumes increase."
The platesetter can be ordered with standard die-cutting systems or retrofitted according to customer requirements. Heidelberg has also paid particular attention to the reliable removal of the intermediate release paper, which can be removed "with 100 percent reliability" thanks to special sensors. Also to increase the reliability of the platesetter, Heidelberg technicians can connect to the machine via remote services and rectify minor faults without having to call out a technician.
New entry-level rip solutionHeidelberg has put together a workflow package to match the Suprasetter A52/A74 platesetter, especially for SMEs working in small format. This consists of the Prinect MetaDimension 52i rip software and the Acrobat plug-in Prinect Imposition Editor. The latter Acrobat extension is used to impose the PDF pages. Various page formats, folding schemes and print sheet definitions can be stored here. The settings for impositioning the print form can be saved in the Job Definition Format (JDF) and these templates can be used for similar jobs. Finally, Prinect MetaDimension 52i is a rip based on Adobe technology and is used to convert prepress data into imageable output signals.
Free choice of systemThe thermal platesetters have been tested by Heidelberg with all common "digital" plates. Depending on the customer's requirements, process-free and chemical-free offset plates can be used. Heidelberg also offers its own plate for this purpose. However, this chemistry-free plate, called Saphira, is not an in-house development, but is offered by Heidelberg under its own label (as an OEM product). "This means that the customer receives a complete solution from us on request, which represents a reliable and economical solution from the Acrobat plug-in to the rip and the plate through to plate imaging," Heidelberg explains.
Heidelberg relies on CtP instead of DI "The GTO DI spark, a first direct imaging machine,
which Heidelberg launched on the market in 1991, was of below-average quality from today's perspective," said Jürgen Rautert, Member of the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), summarizing the company's entry into imaging technology at the time. The machine used a spark erosion process that did not allow for better results in terms of quality. Only an imaging unit developed together with Presstek made the later GTO DI successful. At the beginning of this year, Heidelberg has now moved away from the
direct imaging in the press; the Quickmaster DI 46 and Speedmaster 74 DI products have since been discontinued. "This is not to say that DI technology was the wrong way to go. Technologies are now available that are more flexible and more productive.
Since IPEX, we have been offering our Anicolor inking unit technology for short runs," adds Rautert. At the same time, Rautert leaves a back door open: "This does not mean that we have said goodbye to direct imaging for all time with this step."
Heidelberg's entry into computer-to-plate was with the monstrous "Gutenberg" platesetter, launched in 1995. Although around 100 machines were sold, production of this early generation of platesetters was soon discontinued. The termination of a technology partnership with and by Creo was a setback for Heidelberg. Since then, Heidelberg has increasingly relied on its own developments in this area, with great success.
Jürgen Franck
Product Manager Andreas Forer cites the small space requirement as one of the advantages of the newly introduced A52/A74 platesetters, which are available immediately. He emphasizes that the Suprasetter A52/A74 is the most space-saving, fully automatic CtP platesetter in its class. At the same time, the Suprasetter A52/A74 is not a slimmed-down version in terms of quality. The finest resolutions up to 160 raster (400 lpi) can be output. If supported by the software, frequency-modulated screens (FM) and Heidelberg's hybrid screen Prinect Hybrid Screening can be imaged in addition to normal screens (AM).
Of particular interest to SMEs is the fact that the platesetters can initially be purchased as Suprasetter A52s and therefore for the small format. If the print shop opts for the next larger medium format, it can upgrade the platesetter to Suprasetter A74 simply by installing new (chargeable) software. In addition to the format, the platesetter can also grow with the plate handling. It is possible to order the platesetter as a manual CtP system and later upgrade it to a fully automatic unit by installing an Auto Top Loader. "In this way," says Forer, "print shops can gain experience with direct imaging and thermal technology and decide to upgrade to a fully automatic machine at any time as plate volumes increase."
The platesetter can be ordered with standard die-cutting systems or retrofitted according to customer requirements. Heidelberg has also paid particular attention to the reliable removal of the intermediate release paper, which can be removed "with 100 percent reliability" thanks to special sensors. Also to increase the reliability of the platesetter, Heidelberg technicians can connect to the machine via remote services and rectify minor faults without having to call out a technician.
New entry-level rip solutionHeidelberg has put together a workflow package to match the Suprasetter A52/A74 platesetter, especially for SMEs working in small format. This consists of the Prinect MetaDimension 52i rip software and the Acrobat plug-in Prinect Imposition Editor. The latter Acrobat extension is used to impose the PDF pages. Various page formats, folding schemes and print sheet definitions can be stored here. The settings for impositioning the print form can be saved in the Job Definition Format (JDF) and these templates can be used for similar jobs. Finally, Prinect MetaDimension 52i is a rip based on Adobe technology and is used to convert prepress data into imageable output signals.
Free choice of systemThe thermal platesetters have been tested by Heidelberg with all common "digital" plates. Depending on the customer's requirements, process-free and chemical-free offset plates can be used. Heidelberg also offers its own plate for this purpose. However, this chemistry-free plate, called Saphira, is not an in-house development, but is offered by Heidelberg under its own label (as an OEM product). "This means that the customer receives a complete solution from us on request, which represents a reliable and economical solution from the Acrobat plug-in to the rip and the plate through to plate imaging," Heidelberg explains.
Heidelberg relies on CtP instead of DI "The GTO DI spark, a first direct imaging machine,
which Heidelberg launched on the market in 1991, was of below-average quality from today's perspective," said Jürgen Rautert, Member of the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), summarizing the company's entry into imaging technology at the time. The machine used a spark erosion process that did not allow for better results in terms of quality. Only an imaging unit developed together with Presstek made the later GTO DI successful. At the beginning of this year, Heidelberg has now moved away from the
direct imaging in the press; the Quickmaster DI 46 and Speedmaster 74 DI products have since been discontinued. "This is not to say that DI technology was the wrong way to go. Technologies are now available that are more flexible and more productive.
Since IPEX, we have been offering our Anicolor inking unit technology for short runs," adds Rautert. At the same time, Rautert leaves a back door open: "This does not mean that we have said goodbye to direct imaging for all time with this step."
Heidelberg's entry into computer-to-plate was with the monstrous "Gutenberg" platesetter, launched in 1995. Although around 100 machines were sold, production of this early generation of platesetters was soon discontinued. The termination of a technology partnership with and by Creo was a setback for Heidelberg. Since then, Heidelberg has increasingly relied on its own developments in this area, with great success.
Jürgen Franck
