Heidelberg adapts folder for pharma work

Heidelberg has introduced changes to its TH56 folder to enable it to handle small format folding for pharmaceutical leaflets.

Heidelberg will introduce its TH56 folder with the ability to produce pharmaceutical leaflets at its November open house in Brentford.

While the press focus will be on understanding LED UV printing compared to conventional print, the finishing emphasis will be on the new machine, offering a way for commercial printers to take on pharmaceutical folding, something that many have put out rather than take on.

Ian Trengrouse, post press product manager at Heidelberg, says it has taken nine months to create the upgrade to what has been a strong selling folder in the UK market. “Within Heidelberg, the UK has been global leader in sales of B2 folders over the last few years,” he says. The search for more opportunities led to the idea of adapting this machine.

“While the Ti36 folder is able to deliver a leaflet with a 21mm panel, most pharmaceutical leaflets do not drop below 35mm, within the scope of the TH56. And with legislation expected to increase the legibility and size of printed instructions and warnings, the size of the leaflet will need to increase. “Even today, the 35mm panel would cover 85% of the requirement,” he says.

The secret to the development is in adding an extra set of slitter shafts. The user then gains the make ready advantages from use of this folder. “It will still take an hour or more to set the folder for the first time, but because all the positions are remembered, when the job is repeated, make ready is seven minutes,” he says.

The first unit will concertina fold three or four times, then comes the new slitter arrangement before turning through the next set of buckle plates to deliver a leaflet without air trapped and ready for packing.

Normal function is not impaired he adds. “A company can be folding a 16pp A5 job in the morning from the litho press, switch to a job from the digital press and then in the afternoon run the pharmaceutical work,” he says. “Printers have told us that printing these leaflets is straightforward, single or two colour on 60-70gsm paper, but are put off by the cost of folding in a trade house.”