Hammer-Lübeck enters second century with a new Rapida 145
Challenge
The plan was to replace a ten-year-old sheetfed offset installation with a modern large-format press.
The new press was to be configured to match the company’s individual requirements in every detail, taking into account also the future challenges for packaging production. In addition to an increased production output, significant makeready savings and facilities for inline colour management, it was deemed important to relieve the operators of routine and physically strenuous tasks.
Solution
A Rapida 145 with inline coater has been in operation at Hammer-Lübeck since February 2018. It features pile logistics systems at the feeder and delivery, and stands on a 630 mm plinth to facilitate higher piles. FAPC plate changers, CleanTronic Multi, DriveTronic SRW and further automation systems enable parallel processes and fast makeready. Automatic ink supplies, EasyClean, ErgoTronic PlateStretch and a lift to gallery level for waste and plate transport simplify work for the operators. The inline QualiTronic ColorControl system can also read colour bars at the rear edge of the sheet.
Benefit
With the new press, the proportion of actual printing time has increased from 70 to over 93 per cent. Only 6.8 per cent of the available production time is spent on makeready.
Thanks to QualiTronic ColorControl, waste has been reduced by three-quarters compared to the predecessor press. Fast job changes, high production speeds and a stable print process enable even 3b jobs to be handled cost-effectively on the new Rapida 145.
Already after just six months, print capacity was practically doubled with the Rapida 145. And there are still reserves for further increases.
