Product category:
Printing Presses and Machinery (New and Used, Service and Repair)
News Release from: MAN Roland GB | Subject: Roland 900XXL press
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 January 2008
Roland Press Makes Mono Book Work More
Efficient
Cambridge University Press has installed a Roland 900XXL single unit press for monochrome book work.
The Roland 900XXL features MAN Roland's reverse sheet printing system to provide for double-sided printing of the sheet without the need for a perfecting device to turn the stock, said the company The press is also claimed to be the first of its configuration to be installed in the UK
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 17 Dec 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The size-6 Roland 900XXL joins a collection of presses at Cambridge University Press that include machines from KBA, Akiyama and Heidelberg.
The Roland machine has replaced two B1-format machines.
The Roland 900XXL is currently operated over 24 hours-a-day for five days-a-week, with a view to moving it to six-day production during the early part of this year.
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Cambridge University Press has also updated its platemaking system with a view to the forthcoming large format plate requirement and existing bindery equipment able to handle the 1,420mm x 1,020mm paper size.
Alan Dungar, the manufacturing director at Cambridge Univeristy Press, said: "We select each press on its merits for the specific task that we need to achieve.
In this case we were looking to combine the work produced by two aging B1 presses in to one large format press and take advantage of the faster make-ready capabilities that all manufacturers have been incorporating in to their products in recent years." He explained: "As is normal, we conducted a detailed examination in to all of the leading suppliers' products.
We found the MAN Roland machine offering to be the most suitable for our needs.
The Roland 900XXL allows us to print monochrome work on both sides of the sheet, without having to turn the paper and the speed of make-ready, with all of the latest automation on the press, is exceptionally good.
We are capable of producing work at over 12,000 sheets per hour and we couldn't find any other large format press that could match that performance on the range of stocks that we handle.
We are delighted with the machine." The company tested its standard stock range on the machine, which included papers from 70gsm through to 120gsm.
And Dungar added: "The press will handle stocks from 40gsm but that wasn't our requirement for this particular part of our production area.
The Roland 900XXL has also been operated with an alcohol free fount solution from day one, as we continue to focus on our environmental responsibilities." He explained that Cambridge University Press's average production run is just 1,500 sheets, which is why speed of make-ready was important to the company.
Dungar continued: "The Roland 900XXL incorporates many advanced features to ensure a fast and efficient set-up, with details of each make-ready stored on the system's computer.
We can recall those settings when a similar job is required.
Having said all of that, some of our work does include runs in excess of 20,000 sheets, so the high speed of the MAN Roland press was also an important factor for us - we didn't find another machine of similar format that was capable of such high speeds." And he continued: "In summary, this press produces more work than the two B1 machines it has replaced, with faster make-readies, a faster printing speed and just one operator - it's a real win-win installation for us." According to MAN Roland, operators at Cambridge University Press have quickly adapted to the new machine.
Dungar commented: "Our operators like the press, which is an important element of any installation.
The press incorporates MAN Roland's Inline Observer system, which is a series of camera's located throughout the press that allow the operator to follow the paper path through the press on a screen mounted at the control desk.
The press minder can alter the air-flow to adjust any inconsistencies in paper travel and immediately see the effect via the camera system." Cambridge University Press also hopes that the Man Roland machine's performance would allow it to compete for longer run work.
Gary Doman, MAN Roland GB's director of sheetfed sales, said: "This is the ideal productive solution for book printers.
We anticipate a lot of interest in this style of machine in the coming year from UK book printers looking to enhance their printing capabilities, and be more cost-effective.".
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