Drupa 1967 Heidelberg KOR versus Drupa 2016: Heidelberg Primefire

My first Drupa

I visited my first Drupa in 1967 when I was still an apprentice in master Henk Adolfs´ class. Adolfs inspired me to continue learning and get my teaching certificates, something I am still grateful for. The bus trip from Nijmegen to Düsseldorf was organised by ANGB (Dutch Print Association) and was fantastic in itself just like the bratwurst and Alt beer. What I remember best is my introduction to the Heidelberg KOR offset proof press. It was a refurbished book press and later on the first offset proof press I was allowed to manage. Those were Heidelberg´s first hesitant steps on the way to becoming an offset proof press manufacturer. The KOR presses were no match for what was on the market then, MAN Roland, Solna and Aurelia. Those were the ´real´ thing which not only were more productive, but also of higher quality because of the smaller cylinders and an impression line of only a few millimeters. Heidelberg corrected all this with their SOR series, the predecessor to the current Speedmasters, the best-known and best-sold offset proof presses in the world.

Heidelberg Fire digital presses at Drupa 2016

After a first attempt – and failure – by Heidelberg to cooperate with Kodak in making the Nexpress a success, they will try again at Drupa 2016 with the first ´real´ digital press: the Primefire 106. The Primefire 106 is a 70x100cm 7 colour press based on the Speedmaster with Fujifilm Samba inkjet heads at its core which work iwth waterbased inks. Waterbased inks are not only cheaper and completely recyclable, but the printed sheets dry quickly and can be finished immediately.

Heidelberg has three other digital print options.  The Linoprint, nowadays called Versafire CP/CV, a series industrial digital printers which, contrary to Nexpress, have been successful over the past few years. Label printer Galus Labelfire 340, designed by partner Galus. And the Omnifire 250/100 which can print on a large number of objects. All Heidelberg´s digital print solutions are called ´fire´ which will improve recognisability.

Versafire CP/CV is what is left of the once so renowned Linotype, after takeover by Heidelberg. The brand was one of pioneers in the industry and enriched our leves with fonts such as the Linotype Helvetica family. Linoprint, labelled Versafire, now produces not only fast black and white and colour printers, but also a 4D printer, the JetMaster Dimension, with which objects up to 500x1000mm can be printed.

The Gallus DCS label printers work hard and have a large number of inline finishing options. Gallus designed and produces the Labelfire in cooperation with Heidelberg for the fast growing label market.

Digital workflow indispensible

The new Heidelberg options are important developments, but without a well organised and automated digital workflow they will not be profitable. Heidelberg and other output manufacturers rightly pay attention to this. That is the big difference between now and 1967 when the term workflow still had to be invented and envelopes and at best a plan board managed it all. Heidelberg calls it “Smart Printshop” with Prinect Press Center at the core for the operators. An XL version exists with a super large screen showing all data and parameters of both the job and the press. The operator can preset the next job via JDF info and he can manage the results offline with Prinect Image Control. The changing of plates is no longer a specialised job, but is simultaneous with the AutoPlace XL 2 option and has disappeared completely in the Primefire 106.

What a spectacular demonstration this will be. But, if I were to go to Drupa I would definitely take the time to look at the complete digital workflow from page layout to finishing and sending. Because if that is taken care of properly, that is where the profit will be.