THE entire machine system of Heidelberg’s new Speedmaster XL 106 has been adapted for high-speed operation, offering up to 10% higher net output in folding carton production with a printing speed of 21 000 sheets/hour.

The Speedmaster XL 106 was unveiled at the end of October during the Packaging Day held at the Heidelberg site in Wiesloch-Walldorf. ‘The option to increase the printing speed of the Speedmaster XL 106 to 21 000 sheets/hour makes this high-performance system the world’s fastest sheetfed offset press and means an annual output of over 100 million prints is now also possible in folding carton production,’ says CEO Dr Ludwin Monz.

‘This press is a particularly good option for companies producing packaging in the 70 x 100 format who are calling for ever higher machine outputs and end-to-end automation. The increase in printing speed from 18 000 to 21 000 sheets/hour is especially attractive to these users. The economic benefit is an 8% to 10% higher net output and, provided the full potential productivity is utilised, amortisation in around two years,’ he explains.

In order to achieve this, Heidelberg has optimised some 200 components throughout the entire system, from feeder to delivery. For example, two servo motors now drive the feeder directly and, in the delivery, the weight of the gripper bars has been reduced and they have been adapted to the new printing speed to ensure stable and reliable operation.

‘Right from its market launch in 2004, XL technology has set the benchmark in terms of productivity, performance and reliability for high-end applications in our sector. Heidelberg has continuously enhanced this successful machine platform ever since,’ continues Ludwin. ‘With the newly unveiled Speedmaster XL 106, Heidelberg is taking sheetfed offset printing performance to the next level and enabling folding carton manufacturers in particular to become more competitive,’ he adds.

Pilot partner: Cardbox Packaging

Cardbox Packaging, an international packaging manufacturer headquartered in the Austrian town of Wolfsberg with over 250 employees, makes high-quality and technically sophisticated carton packaging primarily for the food, beverages, confectionery, tobacco and cosmetics industries, as well as the health care market. The company enjoys a long and successful partnership with Heidelberg and mainly uses its technologies to further expand press and post-press operations at its international sites.

Cardbox Packaging recently took the new Speedmaster XL 106 into operation. ‘Consistently high productivity and maximum machine availability

Packaging Day showcases solutions

Over 300 existing and potential customers from all over the world took part in the Packaging Day event with the motto ‘Win the Packaging Race’, held at the Heidelberg site in Wiesloch-Walldorf in October, to showcase the latest packaging market trends and the associated solutions being offered by Heidelberg and its partner MK Masterwork.

The presentations focused on process automation, sustainability, operational excellence and industrial solutions for the post-press packaging segment. A live broadcast from Cardbox Packaging’s new production centre in Wolfsberg showed participants the Speedmaster XL 106 in operation. Series production is scheduled to start in fall 2023 and further pilot installations will gradually follow over the coming months.

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