When the Manroland 500 B2 press was launched in 2004, it benefitted greatly from work that had gone into its antecedent, the 700, which had been around since 1992.

"Because we had the 700, we already had 14 or 15 years of experience with that technology," explains John Worsely, Manroland sales manager for sheetfed machines in the north of England and Scotland. "It was all tested and ready by the time it got to the 500. It is, therefore, a very reliable and proven machine."

The technology in question centres on the larger press’s double-sized impression cylinders and ‘seven-o’clock’ configuration. This meant the upgrade from the smaller-cylindered Manroland 300 that the 500 replaced was a big leap, and one that opened up new markets, according to Worsely. 

"The seven-o’clock configuration reduces marking as the sheet is out of the grippers as it transfers," he explains. "It also allows you to run the heavier substrates on this type of press. Due to the latter, the 500 could reach into the packaging industries as it can run carton and plastics. It gave users more flexibility."

Flexible friend
Flexibility is something the Manroland prides itself on when it comes to this press. The 500 enables printing companies to process substrate thicknesses from 0.04-1mm, while it can also run completely alcohol-free or with very low alcohol. The TripleFlow inking unit, meanwhile, enables the ink flow to be changed to react to the requirements of the print form and materials.

Another bonus in terms of flexibility is in the location of the coating unit. It can be placed at the front and in the middle of the press, as well as at the end.

"People in today’s market want weird and wonderful ideas," says Worsely. "They want to add value and differentiate themselves and their products. The 500 allows printers to do this by enabling a pre-coat, mid-coat and coating unit at the end."

Able to run straight or in perfecting mode, the machine offers optional extras including Power Plate Loading (PPL) and the ColorPilot colour control system. Also optional are QuickChange Coating, for coatings changeovers, and QuickChange Surface, for ink fountain cleaning, both of which help to keep makereadies as quick as possible.

In terms of speed, the machine will hit 18,000sph in straight mode, or 15,000sph in perfecting mode.

Despite having released five editions of the press since 2004, Manroland hasn’t changed the fundamentals much. Worsely says updates have all been concerned with reliability. "They have been mechanical changes, rather than changes to the basic design. For example, a motor on a feeder  to make it more reliable."

Manroland will take in used machines and sell them secondhand with warranty and service packages. A new high-spec 10-colour 500 costs around £1.5m. A similar secondhand model from 2005 costs around £600,000.

Worsely claims the 500 holds its value due to its reliability, pointing out that there are several early models still running without issues in the UK. If you were to look for a secondhand model, however, he still advises you check the cylinders for damage and be mindful of general wear and tear.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Max print speed
Straight: 18,000sph
Perfecting: 15,000sph
Max sheet size
260x400mm-530x740mm
Max image area
580x740mm
Stock thickness
0.04-1mm
Footprint
12-unit press: 15.5x3.6x2.1m
Weight
12-unit press: 56.8tonnes
Price
New high-spec 10-colour: £1.5m
Used 2005 high-spec 10-colour £600,000
What to look for
• General wear and tear
• Cylinder damage