The firm claimed that improvements introduced in the latest machine would improve overall productivity by eight to 10% depending on the type of work produced.

Heidelberg also hinted at developments above B1 sheet size stating we wont rule it out at some point in the future.

Feeder, delivery, coating and perfecting have all been uprated, to allow the press to run at full speed on a wider range of jobs and stocks and to cut makeready times.

A new Preset Plus feeder for both SM and CD versions has a new suction head and suction tape to improve stock handling, especially on very thin and thick stocks. There is also a non-stop feeder device to enable pallets to be swapped without stopping the press.

The Preset Plus delivery for the CD series has redesigned aerodynamic gripper bars and 30-50% more powerful dryers.

Both feeder and delivery can now store job and stock air pre-sets as well as mechanical details to speed up makeready.

The Modular Coating System (MCS) for the CD replaces the automatic wash-up on the last unit of the press. It provides a more versatile and lower cost option for commercial printers that need coating, allowing the unit to be switched between printing and coating as needed.

Perfect Jacket Plus, new jackets for the impression cylinders were claimed to work with a wider range of stocks, provide higher quality and cut wash-up time.

Stones The Printers of Banbury and Pensord Press both beta tested the Preset Plus feeder, and Stones is poised to install a 102CD with the Preset Plus delivery.

Story by Barney Cox