The enhancement of the new Versafire digital
printing generation is fully focused on customer benefit and the market
requirements. With the Versafire EV, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
(Heidelberg) now offers a truly versatile digital production system, designed
for use at entry level as well as by experienced digital printing providers.
“The Versafire EV gives our customers a flexible production system that is
specially designed to ideally meet the requirements in the graphic arts
industry and that they can use to further enhance their digital business model
as a result of diversification and optimization,” explains Stephan Plenz,
Member of the Management Board responsible for Digital Technology at
Heidelberg.
Standing out
with special effects
With the new “invisible red” special toner, the
Versafire EV offers now a total of five special colors. Along white, clear
toner, neon yellow and neon pink, “invisible red” provides additional
embellishment options. In daylight, it has a slightly glossy effect and under
UV light, the toner shines bright red. The use of “invisible red” provides
protection against copying and is particularly suitable for security-relevant
applications. The five special colors facilitate a wide variety of creative
applications, such as printing luminescent posters, invitations, admission
tickets, wristbands, bright advertising brochures and security elements on
printed products.
The new Versafire EV is able to print white first
and the CMYK process colors on top, creating strong luminous images when
printing on colored substrates and achieving new unusual effects. Where
previously several processes were required, it is all done now in a single
pass.
High quality
and precise printing results
The new automatic inline calibration and inline register
provide a high degree of stability, precision and improved quality. Inline
color measurement and automatic calibration take place ahead of the printing
process and ensure constant color stability across the entire run. Top image
quality is achieved thanks to the new resolution of 4,800 × 2,400 dpi.
The Versafire EV has an increased printing speed of
85 or 95 A4 pages per minute and processes grammages of up to 360 gsm, ensuring
a high level of productivity. Furthermore, the system is able to print banners
up to a length of 700 mm (duplex) and as much as 1,260 mm (simplex).
Even better
integration thanks to the new Prinect Digital Frontend
The Prinect Digital Frontend (DFE), developed by
Heidelberg and unique in the print media industry, allows intelligent
integration into digital and offset printing processes. Using this DFE the
Versafire EV can be easily integrated into the existing workflow of a print
shop at the same time that it processes variable print data considerably
faster. Another new feature is the 17-inch touchscreen to control the machine
and the print jobs directly from the DFE ensuring that the operator can keep an
eye on everything.
Since the middle of last year, more and more
customers have attended Versafire production training sessions, gaining
valuable detailed knowledge about setting up media and the machine itself. In
addition, customers receive a matching software to control media set up, the
Media Management Tool. The assistant-aided user interface enables the time and
work needed for setting up substrates to be significantly reduced. All settings
can be saved, exported and imported, as well as loaded onto other Versafire
machines.
First user
JD Druck now offers its customers even more possibilities
JD Druck GmbH in Lauterbach in Hesse is the ideal
company for field testing the new Versafire EV. The print shop has focused on
exceptional customer service and top-class quality for more than 125 years.
Today, 65 employees produce offset and digital printing products for renowned
agency and industry customers, as well as for publishers. They focus on
advertising printing but small packaging jobs and point of sale displays are
also produced. The catchment area stretches from Germany to Austria,
Switzerland and Luxembourg.
“We entered the digital printing sector very early
and I believe in the opportunities that personalization and customization
bring,” confirms Managing Director Jörg Göttlicher. The trained typesetter took
over the print shop from his father in 1991 and is systematically developing
the company. This is evident when one looks at the machines in the digital
printing department – where the various Heidelberg Versafire models can be
found. At the end of January, JD Druck began the field test with the new
Versafire EV and is able to directly compare the performance with the
predecessor models. “The Versafire EV is heading in the just the right
direction and, after just a short period of time, we can see very positive
results,” confirmed Jörg Göttlicher.
When asked about the best new features, operator
Steffen Möller came up with a number of points. “One of them is the improved
user-friendliness due to the new feeder with a flap, which means inserting the
banner paper is now much easier. Also, the larger 17-inch touchscreen makes
configuring the basic settings much more simple.” In addition he is also happy
with the automatic inline register and good color stability ensured by the new
inline sensors. ?“The possibility of now printing white first is super. It
saves us a printing operation and creates great effects and quality on colored
paper,” says Möller enthusiastically.
With multiple certifications of the Deutsche Post,
JD Druck already has a very good reputation in the digital printing sector with
its direct mailing and letter shop services. “We put our trust in
state-of-the-art printing technology and in highly-motivated staff,” explains
Jörg Göttlicher. “This includes all-round service with B-to-B shops, fast
delivery and logistics services. We produce small runs and rush jobs as well as
personalized products by means of digital printing and larger runs and gang
runs with offset printing.” The press room boasts a Speedmaster XL 105
five-color press with coating, and postpress has four Stahlfolder folding
machines, a Stichmaster saddlestitcher and two Polar cutting machines. In the
summer, an Easymatrix die-cutter will be installed so that the company can also
benefit from this added value and achieve faster processes.
Customers and interested parties can experience at
first hand the new design possibilities and the enhanced media applications of
the Versafire EV at its European launch at the Heidelberg site in
Wiesloch-Walldorf on April 18, 2018. Further markets to follow!
