You might think that the continuing increase in the capabilities of colour digital presses was killing the market for multicolour B3 litho machines, especially the more basic versions. However, according to Ryobi's UK agent Apex Digital Graphics, that's far from the case. Its confidence in the market it clear as it has just launched a five-colour version of the GE, itself a newish platform that was launched in two- and four-colour versions at last year's Drupa.
For static, short-run work in the low hundreds, provided you can ensure makereadies are turned around quickly, then Apex believes litho is still the most cost-effective print option as well as also having the edge in terms of quality. The company has found that, for many B3 printers, factory space is at a premium and, even when they had the business case for the five-colour version of the firm's top-of-the-range GX B3 press, they just didn't have the floorspace.
"We found that there were B3 printers who wanted a four-colour plus seal or five-colour press, but hadn't got the space for a GX," says Apex Digital Graphics sales and marketing director Neil Handforth.
At around 2m wide and 5.6m long, the 525GE takes up approximately 40% less space than the GX. Also, significantly, by switching to a low-pile rather than a high-pile delivery, the GE is 1.5m shorter. The rest of the space saving comes from the lower base frame, which means there's no need for a full-length running board on both sides, which makes it narrower too.
Delivery downsize
Handforth points out that the 400mm deep delivery of the GE, as opposed to the 700mm deep delivery of the GX, isn't likely to be an issue when the bulk of work is short-run.
As for the financial savings, at £289,000 for a fully loaded five-colour, the GE is around £80,000 cheaper than a comparable GX.
"When the market is firing on all cylinders people will want the GX, but in these tighter circumstances more people look at something that costs less," says Handforth.
The GE uses the same frames and cylinders as the GX. The feeder has the same suction heads and it offers the same semi-automatic plate change. The configuration Apex sells also has automatic blanket wash, a PDS-E density control system, ink pre-setting and ink roll-up.
The differences are that, as part of the space-saving, the frames are less deep, the top speed is reduced from 15,000 to 11,000 impressions per hour and the thickest substrate is 500microns compared to 600microns.
"The applications that the GE is suitable for are the same as the GX," he says. "But the GE is better for short runs due to its cost competitiveness."
When you're talking of jobs of a few hundred copies and running times of less than 10 minutes, the top speed is far less important than the makeready time, and the GE is quick - typically taking four to five minutes.
One sector of the market that Handforth thinks will be attracted to the machine is existing Ryobi 52 four-colour customers looking to upgrade their machines, for whom the GE isn't such a big leap up as the GX.
Power saving
At 16kW, Apex claims that the GE also has substantially lower power consumption than rivals - it estimates the figure to be somewhere in the region of 25-40% less. It's tricky to substantiate Apex's power consumption claims as not all rivals are prepared to provide figures, and those that do use different metrics. However, the fact the firm is raising the issue shows that it considers how customers can save cash and the planet to be an important issue.
In such a small footprint machine, it's surprising to find the option of UV-curing, although at £90,000 it is not a cheap option. Handforth expects the price of UV-curing to come down in time, although for work where you need the job to go straight into post-press or for printing onto plastics, it's a way of adding another string to a printer's bow and, as a result, he believes the extra cost is more than justified in many cases.
Ryobi has been able to shoehorn UV-curing into the GE because it is using the latest LED UV technology.
"We first showed LED UV on the 525GX," says Handforth. "The advantages include long-term cost savings, due to lower power consumption and longer lamp life."
Power consumption is 75% lower than conventional lamps and their life is 12-15 times longer.
Low emission
Perhaps the most significant benefit of LED over conventional UV lamps is that they don't generate ozone, so there's no need to install ducting, which is likely to be another issue for the space-pushed printer.
The UV curing unit, if fitted, is installed after the fifth printing/coating unit. It's possible to specify UV-curing at the time of ordering or to retrofit.
With the introduction of the 525GE to the UK, Apex is hoping to cement its position on the leaderboard as the top supplier of B3 presses. The GE range has proved more popular than the GX for two-colour machines, and in the four-colour category it's as popular.
For the five-colour, Handforth still expects the GX to prove the more popular choice, but for companies that either don't have the space or the cash for the larger machine, the GE will provide a more than capable alternative and will no doubt help ensure Apex remains at the top of the B3 tree.
SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size 520x375mm
Stock range 0.04-0.5mm
Speed 11,000sph
Colours two, three or five
Automation semi-automatic plate changing, program inking, PDS-E density control
Footprint 5,566x1,955m
Price £289,000 (five-colour)
Contact
Apex Digital Graphics
01442 235 236
www.apexdigital.co.uk
THE ALTERNATIVES
Hans Gronhi GH525
The five-colour Hans Gronhi was added to Printers Superstore's range alongside the four-colour Sanxin, following Hans' acquisition of the latter. At this low price, it's worth having a look.
Max sheet size/stock range 520x375mm/0.04-0.4 mm
Speed 12,000sph
Colours up to six
Footprint 5.2x2.3m
Price £174,950
Contact Printers Superstore 0113 208 8500 www.printers-superstore.com
Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52
Features include auto plate, CIP 4 connectivity, automatic blanket and impression cylinder wash up, slick and proven transfer system, inking and dampening.
Max sheet size/stock range 370x520mm/0.03-0.6mm
Running speed 15,000sph
Colours up to 10
Footprint 5.5x2.7m (five-colour)
Price From £400,000 (five-colour)
Contact Heidelberg 0844 892 2010 www.heidelberg.com
KBA Genius 52 UV
The Genius is waterless and rollerless, with idiot-proof registration and inking due to the central impression cylinder and keyless anilox inking.
Max sheet size/stock range 360x520mm/up to 0.8mm
Colours four/five
Max speed 8,000sph
Footprint 12m2
Price £450,000
Contact KBA 01923 819922 www.kba-print.co.uk
Manroland 50
Double-size printing cylinders and transferters derived from Manroland's larger presses allow the R50 to handle thicker substrates and reduce sheet marking.
Max sheet size/stock range 360x520mm/0.04-0.8mm
Max speed 13,000sph
Colours two to six
Footprint 6.3x2.7m
Price five-colour £375.000
Contact Manroland GB 020 8648 7090 www.manroland.co.uk
Shinohara 52VP
The Shinohara is fast and affordable and the VP model includes perfecting with semi-automatic changeover that takes about a minute. It's also compact and offers a high degree of automation.
Max sheet size/stock range 370x520mm/0.04-0.4mm
Speed 15,200sph
Colours two to six
Footprint 5.2x2m
Price £295,000
Contact GAE 020 8997 8053 www.gae.co.uk
