Saxoprint has ordered a second Heidelberg Speedmaster XL106 with fully automatic plate handling, having been one of those involved in testing the plate to unit concept.
This has robotic handling of plates from the platesetter to be poised above the press. As the spent plates are ejected the system lowers each new plate into the print unit while the robot removes the used plate. No operators have been involved.
This was put through its paces in front of invited guests at Saxoprint’s Dresden factory last week. The beta machine was delivered to the online print company towards the end of 2020, at the height of the lockdown. Since then the lights out print operation has been perfected and 200,000 sets of plates have been changed.
‘The potential for automation is far from being fully exhausted in many areas,” says Heidelberg CEO Ludwin Monz. “By working closely with customers like Saxoprint we are able to bring automation solutions to market more quickly and in a more targeted manner, to maintain our technological leadership and to increase our customers’ competitiveness.”
Automation of plate handling cost the risk of damage to the plates, leading to remakes and the costs of a standing press. And as the time for changing plates becomes a constant, scheduling becomes more accurate. Saxoprint reckons that runs of 50 sheets can be viable.
It is not the first development with Heidelberg aimed at cutting cost of production. The company has previously installed an eight-unit perfecting Speedmaster XL162, together with a CutStar reel sheeter. That press model is no longer supplied by Heidelberg.
Now the future for Saxoprint is based firmly on the plate to unit concept and future machines are likely to follow the concept.
It comes as Saxoprint, part of photo printing giant Cewe, reports sales of €20.8 million in Q2, a rise of 52.5% compared to 2021, with a reduction in costs to enable an Edit of €0.1 million compared to a loss of €0.2 million a year earlier. Sales are still 17% below the level in 2019.
Meanwhile Cewe UK has completed the 75 millionth photobook to be sold by Cewe, an occasion marked by a presentation at Westfield west London in collaboration with Boots.
While Heidelberg has supplied a plate to unit system to Saxoprint, Koenig & Bauer has developed a similar system which it has supplied to one of Saxoprint’s rivals in Germany.
