BDT described the Tornado Integration Module (TIM) as a plug-and-play modular system that can be retrofitted to existing sheetfed litho and digital presses to handle substrates including paper, carton, plastic and foil.

The heart of the system is the Tornado Drive Module, which uses impellers to create an area of low pressure that can lift a range of substrates and transport belts to propel the substrate forward.

Also included is the Tornado Sideblower, which blows a shaped airflow into a stack of media to separate the sheets before transport, and controller software and hardware.

BDT programme manager Jürgen Weber said the cost would vary depending on implementation but would be no more than current equivalent technology. Installation takes from one to two weeks.

BDT showcased its Tornado paper handling technology at Drupa earlier this year.