Heidelberg AutoPlate Pro Cuts Plate Changing Time in Half; Available Soon for Speedmaster XL 75/106

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—September 22, 2014—The fully automatic AutoPlate Pro plate changing system will be available for the Speedmaster XL 75 and XL 75 Anicolor from this fall and for the Speedmaster XL 106 from spring 2015. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) introduced AutoPlate Pro at drupa 2012 for the new Speedmaster CX 102, SX 102 and SX 74 models launched at this event. The system offers a cost-effective alternative to the AutoPlate XL. Unlike this simultaneous plate changer, the plate cylinder of the AutoPlate Pro remains in the gear train and is not disconnected. Consequently, the printing plates are not clamped in place at exactly the same time, but in a time-optimized, staggered process. AutoPlate Pro achieves plate changing times around 50 percent shorter than the semi-automatic AutoPlate system, which results in faster makeready. More than 100 presses with over 600 AutoPlate Pro systems between them are now in operation at the print shops of satisfied customers all over the world.