Heidelberg Installs 1,000th Speedmaster CX 102 Printing Unit

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—Feb. 16, 2012—The Speedmaster CX 102 is “exactly the right press for us at exactly the right time,” says Thomas Löhnert, owner of Löhnert Druck in Markranstädt near Leipzig. This full-service print shop has been using a Speedmaster CX 102 five-color press with coating unit, which integrates the 1,000th printing unit, since the end of last year. The press is also the first of its kind in Saxony.

The Speedmaster CX 102 was unveiled by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) at the UK trade show IPEX 2010 and has been used successfully since then for advertising and packaging printing throughout the world. The combination of proven platform and technology transfer from the Speedmaster XL 105 is an ideal investment for many customers.

“We value the expert advice from Heidelberg and the strong presence in our region, ensuring us high availability and a rapid response,” explains Löhnert. “The new investment was also preceded by layout planning and capacity analysis. This quickly showed that the Speedmaster CX 102 is precisely the right step for us to continue growing. We’ve rarely had such a smooth installation. From day one, the press has thoroughly won us over with its quality, productivity, and flexibility.”

Customers impressed by quality and flexibility
Löhnert Druck was founded in 1990 and has since increased its workforce tenfold. Today, 20 employees are involved in production at the print shop, which has systematically positioned itself as a strong service provider in the 70 x 100 cm (27.56 x 39.37 in) format and whose overriding principle is top quality and customer satisfaction. Print runs vary between 500 and 80,000 sheets. Löhnert Druck has been operating exclusively with presses from Heidelberg since 2008.

The pressroom houses a Speedmaster CD 102 four-color press with coating unit and the new Speedmaster CX 102. “We’re delighted with the Speedmaster CD 102, but we wouldn’t have expected the Speedmaster CX 102 to be so different. It’s obvious that many enhancements have gone into this press,” says Löhnert. “We’re also much more flexible now, as we can use the same plate format for both presses.”

The new Speedmaster CX 102 press already has pride of place in the pressroom. “This press is used for extremely high-quality production with protective, spot and drip-off coating and spot colors,” says Löhnert. The company’s core customers from publishing houses and agencies are impressed with the high quality and Löhnert Druck is looking to use the new investment to attract further customers in Germany and the rest of Europe. Printing is performed using inks from the Heidelberg Saphira series, which are optimized for the presses.

Eco-friendly printing thanks to energy-efficient equipment
The new press has an extensive array of equipment, comprising the automatic InkStar ink supply system, the Prinect Axis Control color measurement and control system, the dynamic sheet brake, and large wallscreen. The Speedmaster CX 102 also impresses with the high energy efficiency of the press itself but also with the peripherals such as the AirStar air supply cabinet and DryStar dryer. The IPA package enables Druckerei Löhnert to offer alcohol-free and alcohol-reduced production.

“These factors also played a role in our investment decision, as both we and our customers are attaching ever more importance to sustainable production,” says Löhnert. “Thanks to all these measures, we are well positioned on the market and will continue to improve our workflows. We regard Heidelberg as an expert partner that helps us expand our market position further with consulting, services, and, of course, technology.”

The Speedmaster CX 102 exceeds all expectations
The Speedmaster CX 102 enables customers to respond to the market trend for maximum productivity and economic success. The wide range of configurations and equipment makes it possible to adapt the press to the specific requirements of the relevant business model. It can be ordered in a variety of configurations, from straight press to dual-coating configuration and even as a Duo press with flexographic printing before offset.

A very broad spectrum is covered with numerous application options ranging from UV equipment, foil packages, and sheeters to cold foil applications with FoilStar. There is therefore huge demand for the Speedmaster CX 102 in packaging printing and roughly one in every three printing units is accounted for by this segment, a trend that is continuing to rise.

Fifteen presses were sold immediately following the press's presentation at Ipex 2010, despite delivery of the first series-produced presses not being scheduled till September 2010. The Speedmaster CX 102 was also the highlight at Expoprint in Brazil and at the Open House events in Germany, Malaysia, Japan, and the United States. The ramp-up for series production was completed in spring 2011, which meant it was then also possible to target the Chinese growth market.

The Speedmaster CX 102 also enjoyed further major success at PrintChina in Dongguan with sales of over 40 presses. China is today the most important sales market for the Speedmaster CX 102, followed by Germany, Italy, France, and Taiwan. The press is now being used successfully throughout the world - from Mexico to Australia and from Sweden to South Africa. The 1,000th printing unit rolled off the production line at the Wiesloch/Walldorf plant in November 2011.

Source: Heidelberg.