Presses

According to Manroland, the R300 is “a good honest press” – a machine where all the bells and whistles come as standard. The press was groundbreaking for its time, according to Gary Doman, director of sheetfed sales for Manroland GB, and needed very few optional extras as its key strength was that it had full automation as standard, right from the feeder to the delivery.

The B2 press offered convertible perfecting as standard at an impressive speed of 15,000 sheets per hour (sph), or 16,000sph straight printing. Although premiered at Ipex in 1993, it wasn’t until two years later that it was commercially available as Manroland had to build a new factory to assemble it.

The machine replaced the Roland Favorit and was significantly more advanced than its predecessor, being the first press to employ an air glide delivery system for mark-free printing. Although it was up against Heidelberg’s ubiquitous Speedmaster 74, the R300 went on to achieve an impressive 100-plus installations in the UK before production stopped in early 2006, being replaced by the R500.

As a standard product in Manroland’s portfolio, the machine needed no major technological improvements
during its lifetime. However minor software tweaks were made to the press during the mid 1990s to improve functionality and introduce JDF compatibility. At Drupa 2000, a shaft-driven infeed was also added for smoother, more reliable feeding. In 2004, a 10-colour-version of the press was released as an alternative to the previous maximum of eight-colours.

The press’s technology rested on Manroland’s software control system, which allowed all press functions and
operation to be controlled from a single keyboard screen.

As a result, the press could be easily integrated into CIP3/4 workflow. The faster transfer of data via the digital control of the press meant very fast press changes for makereadies, says Doman.

The press operates on a transfer cylinder with suction units positioned in the collecting drum that take the sheet tail, smooth it out and tauten it in the opposite direction so that it lies flat on the cylinder prior to reversing.

The R300 came with the option of an automated cocking plate loading (CPL) system, which enables diagonal register from the control consol. The plate is moved on the cylinder so that the plate cylinder is always parallel to the inking rollers and blanket cylinder resulting in a good quality print. Its popularity meant that it was fitted on 95% of the presses sold. Another benefit of the R300 was Manroland’s Pecom system, which enabled remote job preparation so makeready times were quicker and downtime reduced.

Closed-loop colour control was one of the few options available on the press. Although no longer on sale new, a 2004 R305LV with coater and extended delivery will cost £700,000, while a used 1999 model with the same configuration will cost £330,000.

Manroland will take old models as part-exchange against an R200 or R500. Most secondhand dealers sell used Manroland presses, or you can buy one directly from the manufacturer. Its service contract Proserv is available at four main levels and Manroland has 60 engineers based nationally. As with all used presses, check the condition of the gears and cylinders. Test all software and electronics, make sure the machine has CPL, and carton guides, fitted to some machines, would also be useful, says Doman.

SPECIFICATIONS

Max sheet size 530x740mm
Min sheet size 260x400mm
Optional format size 590x740mm
Speed 16,000sph straight, 15,000sph perfecting
What to look for
• Conditions of gears and cylinder
• Software and electronics
• Cocking plate loading
• Carton guides