Heidelberg Extends Anicolor Benefits into 29" Format; U.S. Availability Announced

KENNESAW, GA—March 17, 2014—Heidelberg has announced the immediate North American market availability of its XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press. At a crossover of just 250 sheets to digital presses (like the HP 10000), Anicolor leads in cost efficiency for digital market run lengths in the 29" format for commercial, label, package printing and P-O-P applications.

Anicolor technology is a revolutionary inking unit that achieves sellable quality in as little as 10 sheets, with total makeready times around six minutes per form. Bursting with performance-driving capabilities, the fully customizable XL 75 Anicolor is available in four- to 10-color straight and perfecting configurations, with full format flexibility up to 23 x 29", stock flexibility up to 32-pt., as well as inline and double coating. The press can be used with four-color process and extended multi-color process, as well as with PMS spot colors.

The XL 75 Anicolor also can save more than 90 percent in overall ink costs per sheet, compared with click charges incurred on the HP Indigo 30000 and 10000 digital presses. Profit-oriented print service providers can tap into these potentials, rather than make forced consumable choices associated with digital printing systems.

Asked and Answered

On Jan. 29, PrintMediaCentr hosted an hour-long #PrintChat about short-run offset and Heidelberg’s XL 75 Anicolor press. This provoked a lively and substantive discussion on Twitter between Heidelberg experts and close to 50 print and print media professionals eager to evaluate the advantages of Anicolor technology against currently available 29" digital solutions. Selected queries (condensed from the Twitter session) included:

Q: What’s really different from running conventional and true digital presses together?

A: Anicolor is designed for the short-run spectrum, 250 to 5k sheets optimum, with full sheet and substrate flexibility. In a two-shift scenario, the many makereadies add up quickly—as do the savings, in comparison with conventional offset. Combining Anicolor with a two-up digital device allows you to focus each device at its corresponding sweet spot, optimizing your return on investment.

Q: Is there a downside to long runs on the XL 75 Anicolor, e.g., temperature changes as the ink train warms from friction?

A: On long runs the Anicolor behaves like a conventional press, meaning there are no process related downsides. However, the longer the run, the more important the format; eventually, the 41" format takes over the cost leadership. The XL 75 Anicolor’s screen roller and the ink form roller are both temperature controlled within a very narrow window.

View the Anicolor #PrintChat discussion in its entirety here.

Cost Savings Verified

Using Printing Industries of America (PIA)’s PrintAS Cost Calculator and its own data, Heidelberg has verified that its XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press is less expensive than a 4-up e-ink-based system (such as the HP Indigo 10000 digital press) for runs as low as 250 29x23" sheets. PIA member firms may download the PrintAS Cost Calculator at www.printing.org/free, and plug in data specific to their own operation. Heidelberg also offers a variety of input data at http://sso.us.heidelberg.com/Anicolor/CostCalculator.pdf. These data may be plugged into the PIA PrintAS calculator to demonstrate why Heidelberg’s XL 75 Anicolor press is the ideal solution for printing service providers looking to grow their business in the 29" short-run segment.

To coincide with the North American launch of the XL 75 Anicolor press, Heidelberg will sponsor a webinar on March 27 at 2 p.m. EST. Joerg Daehnhardt, Director of Product Management for Anicolor and VLF, will review currently available short-run options in the 29" format segment, both digital and offset, and field questions from participants. For more information or to register for the webinar, visit www.us.heidelberg.com.

To Learn More

Visit Heidelberg’s XL 75 Anicolor microsite, where you may download Heidelberg’s recently published Anicolor Technology Review; view a time-lapse video of the XL 75 Anicolor’s installation in Heidelberg’s North American Print and Packaging Technology Center; view Anicolor Technology Animation, customer testimonials, and more.

Source: Heidelberg.