Tried & Tested

Whatever business you are in it’s important to keep tabs on customer demand. This willingness to listen and respond to customer feedback was one of the reasons that Japanese press manufacturer Sakurai launched its 66SI series machine back in 2001. The machine was born out of customer consultation about its products and built on the success of the 58EII series of multi-colour presses.

Another driving factor behind its launch was that Sakurai identified a gap in the market for an SRA2 machine, explains Sakurai technical service manager Paul Jaffray. “Many B2 printers were using presses on SRA2 paper sizes 80% of the time,” he says.

Value for money
The 66SI boasted high levels of automation as well as an impressive top speed. Jaffray attributes its success down to these factors in addition to other benefits such as its small footprint, strong build quality and ease of use. It also came at an afford­able price, which made it an instant hit with customers.

The press was either configurable as a straight, or six months after its launch, perfecting machine. A coating option was added nine months after its launch.

At Northprint 2003, Sakurai unveiled a five-colour perfecting version of the SRA2 press. The Sakurai 566 was available as either straight, two-back-three and one-back-four perfecting versions. Optional extras on all of the machines in the range included ink roller temperature control, coating unit with Harris & Bruno anilox chamber system and a postcard feeding setup for envelope printing.

With a mechanical speed of 15,000 sheets per hour (sph) straight printing and 13,000sph perfecting, in addition to automatic plate changers, the 466SI series machines offered automatic roller washers and Ultra Sonic double sheet detector. The suction-feed belt system offered easy feeder setup because paper holding wheels aren’t on the feed board.

Jaffray says that the machine is “cost effective” and ideal for “short to medium run work”. It’s also an ideal choice for printers look to upgrade or come down in size.

“The 66SI series has many strengths for a printer moving up from B3 or coming down from B2,” says Jaffray.  One of its major strengths is its compact footprint, which means that it only requires a small work area – as a typical layout the 466SI only needs an average of 5.5x3m compared to a B2 press needing an average 7x3m.

Sakurai will take used presses as trade in. “We will normally use dealers or if it is less than three years old we may take it to our works and refurbish it and sell on,” explains Jaffray.

The manufacturer has an extensive spare parts department and currently holds more than £2m worth of stock. It stocks parts for machines as old as 1988, and then has regular deliveries from the Japanese factory from customers’ requirements.

Servicing of machines is supported by a dedicated team of eight technicians and a sub-contractor network. Sakurai will also tailor make service agreements to customers’ needs.

A new 466SI will cost around £300,000 as a list price. Used prices will vary according to specification but typically would retain anywhere between 35% to 60% of their value.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Max colours 5
Speed 15,000 sph in straight mode/13,000 sph in perfector mode
Max sheet size 660x 470 in straight mode/ 660x468 in perfector mode
Max print size 650x 460in straight mode/650x450in perfector mode
Min paper size 297x200in straight mode/ 297x257in perfector mode
Plate size 650x550mm               0.2-0.3mm
Prices New 466sip: £300,000 list
New 566sip+ coater: £ 420,000 list
Used 566sip+coater:  £252,000
What to look for General wear and tear