Post Press News - Rima
Transcript
Post Press News - Rima
POST PRESS NEWS Worldwide News about Post Press – August 2013 RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini Post Press in a new dimension for the biggest heatset press in the world. This year the largest heatset press of the world – consisting of two 80p Lithoman IV presses which can run in duplex mode – is going into production at Kraft-Schlötels, Germany. The press will be equipped with a highly automated Post Press System realized by RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini, cooperation partners since summer 2011. 08 Editorial One year later our DRUPA-slogan looks more up-to-date than ever: Let’s accept the challenge! At DRUPA our message was clear – we need to accept the difficult situation and have to find the right answers. At that time our industry was undergoing a dramatic structural change, the outlook was grim and the investment in new web presses had dropped over 50% compared to the 2008 values. One year later we realize that the situation has not improved at all, no “U”, a “W”-recovery will bring us back the volumes and margins seen in the past. Some applications / markets will drop even further while others will see some positive trends. The light at the end of the tunnel is rather dim. The last years we have been working very hard to find the right answers for this rapidly changing reality. Answers which eventually resulted in new technologies, new services, new features, special solutions, etc. – all supported by a strong & reliable team. The goal was clear – how can we help our customers to improve their productivity and efficiency? Did we meet the requirements and expectations of our customers? Let’s look at what happened since DRUPA: • More than 70% (in terms of investment it’s even more) of the new presses sold at DRUPA are equipped with RIMA-SYSTEM Post Press, • This trend continued for the rest of the DRUPA year and into 2013 with orders like Bruckmann (Germany), Schaffrath (Germany), Leykam (Austria), Quad, Brown, Fisher Printing, Thomson (USA), Roto Armor & La Galliote Prenant (France),…. • At the same time we have been able to push R&D and to present and install several new technologies in areas like personalized retail, mailing stackers, book block stacking behind digital presses, etc. • Another important area we have been professionally serving for a few years are re-engineering and optimization projects. The volume of these projects has risen dramatically over the last years and a special knowledge and project handling is required. What do these facts tell us? It’s not about selling a new stacker, trimmer or robot, it’s about understanding needs and giving solutions! And these solutions can have completely different technical and financial requirements – from a new and highly automated system to a mix of new, existing and overhauled machines or solutions with new technologies for special applications. And it’s also about being straight and honest, about telling what makes sense (technically & financially) and what doesn’t – although in difficult times the “truth is not the highest traded good”. We are committed to finding and giving the right solutions. Customers value our technologies, our product quality and reliability and the way we handle our projects – from the pre-sale consulting to the start-up phase. As a result we are today the most complete Solution Provider in Post Press. Because of the growing importance of reengineering and optimization projects this issue of the Post Press News will focus on this topic. The Bruckmann article will outline why this group invested 3+ million EUR to completely renew and optimize the Post Press of their three rotogravure presses, the Burda article shows a very similar approach but with a different outcome. Several other examples from around the world show the whole spectrum of optimization – from a single machine to complete systems. At the same time in the market of complete automation behind high speed / high volume presses RIMA-SYSTEM remains the main player. Two quick examples: the most productive web press in the world (Lithoman 160p @ 50.000 cph) at Kraft-Schlötels and the most productive web press in Austria (Lithoman 48p @ 70.000 cph, short grain) will both be equipped with RIMA-SYSTEM Post Press. We are fit for the future. Talk to us if you feel we can help you optimize your Post Press operation! Enjoy reading, Klaus Kalthoff Content Content RIMA-SYSTEM Technology for Bruckmann Tiefdruck Page 4 High-Speed log stacking at Burda Nürnberg in Germany Page 9 Improved Post Press Page 10 More Orders and Installations Page 15 Leykam invests in RIMA-SYSTEM Page 16 China goes automation Page 18 Kraft-Schlötels – biggest heatset press worldwide Page 19 Editorial Fit for the future! Complete Post Press reengineering at Bruckmann. TSB Bruckmann RIMA-SYSTEM technology for Bruckmann Tiefdruck Increased quality and greatly reduced manning levels Running a gravure printer viably is undoubtedly one of today’s biggest challenges in the printing industry. When Oliver Schwab was made managing director of Bruckmann Tiefdruck GmbH & Co. KG in Oberschleißheim in 2008 he was under absolutely no illusions about this, having spent his entire professional career in gravure printing. Now, five years on, Schwab and his team have achieved much and ensured that this member of the Bagel Group will be a major player in European gravure printing following a multi million euro investment in completely new postpress systems for three of its four production lines. Schwab believes that this represents, “An extremely positive sign of support for our strategy by the shareholders… and recognition of the fact that we have put our house in order in Oberschleißheim.” Bruckmann Tiefdruck has been operating in Oberschleißheim on the north-west outskirts of Munich since 1968 and became part of the Bagel Group in 1999. At the time of that takeover an additional 2.70 m wide press was installed and since then Bruckmann has operated four gravure lines: two KBA TR4S presses with a usable width of 1.60 m and two KBA TR6B presses with a usable width of 2.65 or 2.70 m. These widths explain why Oliver Schwab believes that, “We are more an offset printer with gravure technology.” Schwab is perfectly positioned to make comparisons. In 2011, sales, order processing and production planning were bundled together with those of TSB and Burda-Druck into a joint company, B&B Media Services. Allocation of jobs secured by B&B to the TSB and Burda gravure plants, with their different sets of equipment, has helped to significantly improve the job structure at Oberschleißheim. That being said, even prior to 2011 it was fairly unusual for Bruckmann to print catalogue and magazine signatures due to the configuration of the folders; three of the four being equipped with formers. The Bagel or TSB Group also owns a web offset printer, Bagel Rotooffset, located in Meineweh near Leipzig. This is equipped with 80 and 96-page web offset presses, which have usable widths that are very similar to those of the Bruckmann presses. Direct cost benchmarks can therefore be established, especially when there are orders that could be produced either by means of offset or gravure. This is no longer so very unusual. Oliver Schwab comments, “There are customers who no longer explicitly request offset or gravure. What matters to them is delivering high quality to deadline – and, of course, at the right price.” In Oberschleißheim, as in Meineweh, the finishing lines primarily deliver brochures, i.e. finished products that may have been glued or stitched inline with two or three folds. This means that the Post Press technology has all the more impact on productivity, quality and costs. Staffing costs reduced So what exactly did Schwab and his team have to deal with in order to put their house in order? Staff costs are – besides paper, ink and energy – the biggest cost factor in printing and they are easier for the management and staff themselves to influence than paper costs. They are a decisive factor in the success or failure of a company, and the Post Press lines are amongst the most labour intensive areas of production. Oliver Schwab, Managing Director at Bruckmann Tiefdruck GmbH & Co. KG, is confident that the company is fit for the future with its new RIMA-SYSTEM Post Press lines. TSB Bruckmann Until a few months ago Bruckmann followed the traditional building block principle in Post Press: those units required for the cutting, transporting and stacking of a particular job would be assembled with corresponding amount of labour to create the relevant finishing line. Investment decisions were also driven by the tasks or units required at the time. Transportable finishing lines have advantages but also unquestionable disadvantages. “It doesn’t do the units any good if they are moved to a different place every third day”, is how Oliver Schwab sums up his experience. At the request of the Bagel shareholder, the managing director had put his plans for the Bruckmann plant down on paper as long ago as 2008 and even then automated deliveries formed a key component of the concept. However, its implementation was put on hold whilst Europe’s gravure companies sought various ways to consolidate and position their plants. Nevertheless Schwab worked to optimize production processes and to reduce staff costs and he did so successfully. By 2012 the workforce had been cut from around 200 to some 160 permanent employees, without any reduction in capacity. Into the new Post Press age A decisive step was taken last year when the Bagel shareholders gave the green light for the purchase of the new Post Press equipment. Their supplier, RIMA-SYSTEM, was ready to go straight away, having already manufactured a number of key modules. As a result, Bruckmann was able to leap into a new prepress age within the space of half a year (including three and a half months of installation time). The Düsseldorf machinery manufacturer had to overcome competition from various well-known names but the most compelling argument in its favour came from the Tiefdruck Schwann-Bagel plant in Mönchengladbach, where RIMA-SYSTEM had already trialled several of its new developments. Oliver Schwab was therefore able to draw on his experience of working for several years in a RIMA-SYSTEM equipped plant. Hans-Josef Pflipsen is the German sales manager for RIMA-SYSTEM and he recalls that, “at the end of June 2012 the final decision was made in favour of RIMA-SYSTEM and we started to build the lines at the end of August, with a constant objective of keeping down time to an absolute minimum.” They pulled it off, and each individual press only had to be taken out of production for three or four days at most. Oliver Schwab, “Within a really short space of time three lines were all of a sudden complete. It was also great fun. The people from RIMA-SYSTEM were both highly effective and committed.” In the case of the 1.60 m wide presses 3 and 4, the Post Press lines were gradually integrated whereas with press 5 it was all done in one go. On 17th December 2012 the final robots started operating and today three of the four Bruckmann gravure presses are equipped with the automated deliveries that Oliver Schwab envisaged in principle back in 2008. TSB Bruckmann Each Post Press configuration consists of various low and high level conveyor systems, two RS 840 double stream trimmers, two RS 34 S Lift compensating stackers with RS 110 blocking units and an RS 400 palletizing robot. Each of the three palletizers is fitted with automatic pallet transport systems, interleaf sheet feeders and Paletti operating software. One important goal was to bring all the deliveries together in one easy to oversee production section. This means that instead of the three or four staff required when the bundles were still stacked by hand, only one worker per shift is now permanently assigned to each line and he or she also handles the presetting. With three presses running for three shifts, this has helped Bruckmann Tiefdruck reduce manning levels by over 20 operators. It has also made it possible to completely eliminate subcontractors, who in past years consistently numbered around 25. However, the new manning levels meant that all units needed to be reachable quickly. To make this possible RIMA-SYSTEM drew on its broad product range to create lines with heavy duty high level and horizontal conveyors that allowed the compensating stackers and palletizing cells for presses 3 and 4 to be placed side by side although the folder delivery for press 4 is in the basement. Even the delivery for press 5 is only a few steps away despite what Schwab describes as, “challenging space constraints”. Raising the conveyor belts above head height has allowed the Post Press lines to cross each other and permits direct access to all units. Even though it now concentrates on finished products, Bruckmann still has to cope with a wide range of signatures stretching from 4 up to 128 pages. The pages themselves are largely A4 and the grammages lie between 34 and 115 g/m2. Nevertheless, since the modules are set up automatically and a couple of touches on the touchpad are all that is required to select the production path and the pallet arrangement for the stacking, it is now possible to switch production faster than ever. “Much more relaxed” After the first three months, Oliver Schwab offers this preliminary assessment, “Things are much more relaxed in Post Press now. Things are quieter and even the pallets look a bit better than when stacked by hand.” He also praises the trim quality, even though it has not yet been necessary to change a single knife on the rotary trimmers. There was a little concern in advance about the spiral modules, which had been adopted as a space saving solution for changing the height and direction of the product stream. “However, so far there has not been any kind of problem at all.” RIMA-SYSTEM has been using spirals successfully for years when the direction of the shingled stream needs to be changed at high speed. In contrast to conventional curves – where the products always tend to drift at the end of the curve and therefore enter the next conveyor section at an angle – in spirals the tail edges of products are fixed right up until the last moment. This ensures cleaner transfers even at high speed. At Bruckmann it has been possible to achieve a throughput in excess of 90,000 copies per hour in two-up production, which in turn means that the robots stack around 500 bundles per hour. What about the overall Post Press wastage rate? Schwab, “Initially it was somewhat higher but this was probably due to operator errors. Currently it is below the previous levels.” According to Schwab, staff who, “were used to using a spanner on the system”, tend to, “adjust the settings”, unnecessarily. The printers can do a lot for quality. The old rotary trimming systems often suffered disruptions because a poor product stream triggered the light barriers and stopped the trimmer. All hell would break loose in the hall and printers and assistants would have to manually remove the shingled stream. Schwab, “My printers have quickly learned that the better the product that emerges from the folder, the more cleanly it is aligned, the fewer the problems they encounter with the delivery.” Confidence Bruckmann Tiefdruck is now fit for the immediate future with its new RIMA-SYSTEM Post Press lines. “Now we just need the orders”, comments a smiling Oliver Schwab. 2013 began better than the previous year and so a feeling of confidence pervades the Oberschleißheim plant despite the various bits of bad news from the printing industry. Click here to see Post Press live at TSB Bruckmann. Log Stacking | Burda, Nürnberg High-Speed log stacking at Burda Nürnberg in Germany High-Speed log stacking at Burda Nürnberg in Germany Last year, the rotogravure printer Burda opted for new high-speed log stackers from RIMA-SYSTEM to increase the output and stability of their production behind a KBA TR7B press. Last year, the rotogravure printer Burda opted for new high-speed log stackers from RIMA-SYSTEM to increase the output and stability of their production behind a KBA TR7B press. This was necessary as the group made a strategic reorientation where each plant should focus on the efficient production of a certain kind of production. While the sister plant in Offenburg was focusing on finished products (mainly trimmed and untrimmed retail) the Nürnberg plant was optimizing their abilities to print finished products. Mr. Christoph Barth (Technical Director of the Burda Group) and Mr. Osbild (Managing Director at Burda Nürnberg) shook hands with the team of RIMA-SYSTEM. The Burda group had already good experience with the older version of the log stacker, the RS 600, at their plant in Nürnberg. After test installations of the new machine in Nürnberg and in Offenburg to check the performance with a wide range of different grammages, coatings and paginations the customer was convinced that the RS 610 was the best machine for their needs: The connection to the existing conveying system has been realized with high-speed spiral, “c”- and “s”-conveyors which transport the shingled stream safely to the log stackers by keeping the products between belts and avoid a misaligning of the copies as it can happen with standard flow-turns. The two RS 610 HS heavy duty machines have replaced two existing CIVIEMME vertical log stackers which have been running successfully for many years. Together with the RS 610 HS log stackers two new PL 86 log palletizers with slip sheet feeders and an automatic pallet conveying system with pallet magazine have been installed. After 6 months in production (start-up was mid of December) the customer is more than happy with the new horizontal machines. Convincingly easy set-up and operation and the great log quality combined with a high grade of automation and accessibility are major benefits of the RS 610 HS. Click here to see Post Press live at Burda Nürnberg. Tech Info: RS 610 HS High speed horizontal log stacker Variable configurations Special gapping system Fully servo-driven Automatic or semi-automatic adjustment One-side operation and maintenance Options: Remote Maintenance, PPMS, JobTicket, ZMR-Control specs cycle time: pagination: sizes: log length: >27s 4-144p delta-tabloid 600-1200 mm Improved Post Press Increase productivity & save costs – with improved Post Press Reduce waste, minimize manual labor, improve workflow, stop moving equipment, focus on main (“cash cow”) productions, standardize machines and processes, specialize on selected products and formats – there are several areas of improvement. At the end it’s about having an operation which is optimized for the work you are producing. This is not always the case. There are still many examples where printers do not have the right machines, the best configuration and an in-line workflow for the products they have to run. In markets which are highly price-sensitive competing with the “wrong” equipment becomes very expensive. The “Bruckmann-story” in this Post Press news is an in depth project portrait from a group who evaluated the market requirements, their ability to serve it with their actual equipment and the costs related to it. Eventually they took the decision to focus on retail production and to optimize the deliveries of three presses to best serve this market. Read more about their experience. The “Burda Project Portrait” has a similar story. Here also the decision was taken not to do all kind of work on every press. The result was to reorganize the delivery of two rotogravure presses and to focus on log production. A centralized and highly Login Username: Password: Used and factory overhauled machinery for sale. Note: Conveyors (Straight Conveyors, Diverts, FlowTurns, etc) are available on request. 10 automated log stacking and log palletizing system was installed. The results are higher press speed, less waste and reduced labor costs. Read more about the specifics of this installation. In addition the following overview shows very different optimization projects from all around the world. They range from basic automation (replace manual pile down with an entry level stacker) to a simple replacement investment (e.g. a log stacker to replace a compensating stacker) to the add-on of new features (like e.g. trimming or robotic palletizing) up to the redesign of a complete post press system. All these examples also teach us that based on requirements, budget and technical specification the best compromise has to be found. This includes the configuration, the degree of automation and the type of equipment. It could be all new, 2nd hand, factory refurbished or a mix of it. In a first step our new website http://stockmachines.rima-system.com with all available demo and 2nd hand machines might be worth a look. This easy searchable (by type of machine, manufacturer,…) on-line list gives you a quick and comprehensive overview. If you find a machine interesting a PDF-summary with pictures gives a more detailed description. And if you need more help, contact us to discuss the specific needs of your project! Improved Post Press Coptip, Italy Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Lithoman 72p, heatset Retail Replace two existing non RIMA-SYSTEM press stackers with new RS 36S Reduce waste, maintenance costs, down-time, improve bundle quality and average run speed Installation of two RS 36S double-lift stackers Grafiche Boccia, Italy Press: Application: Project: Komori 32p, heatset Retail Add trimming and stacking line Requirements: Produce off the press retail products, run untrimmed productions into a compensating stacker Solution: RS 830 trimming line with RS 34S compensating stacker 11 Improved Post Press Grabados Nacionales, Venezuela Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Baker Perkins 32p, heatset / Lithoman III 32p, heatset Magazine, catalog, directory Replace non RIMA-SYSTEM stackers behind Baker Perkins add log stacker to Lithoman Reduce manual labor, introduce basic automation, comply with labor rules, deliver logs to bindery for the Lithoman productions Installation of two RS 34S stackers for the Baker Perkins Installation of one semi-automatic vertical ST 2000 log stacker for the Lithoman ACES, Argentina Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: 12 Harris book press, coldset Book printing Replace manual pile down and log building with semi-automatic log stacker Reduce manual labor, improve bundle quality, get counted logs Installation of a semi-automatic vertical ST 2000 log stacker Improved Post Press Pindar, England Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Sunday 4000, Heatset Retail, Magazine Complete Post Press for High-Speed Printing machine Minimal start-up times, good accessibility, high flexibility System with 2x RS 840, 2x RS 36S, 2x ST 8000, 2x RS 400 WebStar, Australia Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Rotoman 24p , heatset Magazine & catalog Replace existing log stacker with higher performance log stacker Reduce down time & maintenance costs, improve log quality, increase average run speed & up-time Installation of an automatic horizontal RS 610 log stacker Obeikan, Saudi Arabia Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Muller Martini Saddle Stitcher (3x), Kolbus Perfect Binder (1x) Catalog & books Replace manual pile down with basic automation Reduce manual labor, make counted and compensated stacks of stitched and perfect bound magazines Installation of three RS 11 and one RS 33 bindery stackers 13 improved Post Press RotoCobrhi, Spain Press: Application: Project: Requirements: Solution: Lithoman IV 80p Retail Add in-line trimming Produce off the press retail products RS 830 trimming line with RS 36S compensating stacker Stibo, Denmark Press: Application: Lithoman III 32 p short grain, heatset Retail, magazine & catalog Project: Install a 2nd hand press with a complete post press configured of new, existing and factory refurbished machines Requirements: Complement the existing machines with a short grain press for highly automated, efficient output Solution: Complete system with floor (existing) & overhead (refurbished) conveyors, double stream trimming line (new) with stackers & log stacker (existing) and palletizing robot (refurbished). 14 Orders and Installations More Orders and Installations Thomson Reuters, USA ST 4000 vertical log stacker for short logs with ZMR (Zero Make Ready) Thijsen, NL Factory overhauled RS 3210A high speed stacker Arcangel Maggio, ARG RS 34S stacker CSP Grafica Editoriale, IT RS 36S replacing a non RIMA-SYSTEM stacker Parzeller, GER Factory refurbished ST 220 La Galliote Prenant, FR Center cut trimmer El Universal & El Horizonte, MEX One RS 34S stacker for M600 & two RS 34S stackers for GOSS Community Quad Xochimilco, MEX Complete Post Press for new PCF folder for existing S3000 press Neef & Stumme, GER Factory refurbished ST 320 for new M600 press Infopress, HUN Complete Post Press for 2nd hand 48p press Fisher Printing, USA Complete system with four RS 36S stackers for retail production behind S3000 press RRD Warsaw, USA Special solution with several RS 20 high speed stackers Quad Oklahoma, USA Complete system, double stream trimmers, RS 36S stackers, integration of RS 400 robot VPM, GER RS 610 log stackers (2x), RS 820 (overhauled), RS 36S stacker Cummings, USA Conveying and ST 220 log stackers (factory refurbished) for new Komori S38D Moravia Press, CZ Complete Post Press for new Lithoman press A-Tribuna, BRA Conveying and stacking for KBA newspaper press Pindar, UK Complete system, two ST 8000 log stacker, two trimming and stacking lines, double robot UPC, FIN Two RS 34S compensating stackers to replace two existing machines • • • •• • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Leykam Post Press System Leykam invests in the most productive printing and post press system in Austria The LEYKAM Let’s Print group has installed a 48p short grain web press in its Müllendorf plant. The web press is producing retail work at a speed of 70.000 cph – single stream (1 x 48p) or double stream (2 x 24p). In order to process the high amount of paper the post press had to match highest performance standards: “We and RIMA-SYSTEM are partners for many years now. This partnership is based on the convincing performance we have experienced with the previous installations which we have behind our other high volume presses. Therefore it seemed logic to once more trust in RIMA-SYSTEM technology. Today, with the whole system running for 6 months we have the proof that we took the best possible decision – in terms of the press and in terms of the post press” explains Michael Steinwidder, CEO of LEYKAM Let’s Print. The Post Press line behind the 48p Lithoman short grain press includes floor and overhead conveyors, an RS 840 automatic double-stream trimming line, two RS 36S lift stackers with RS 110 blocking units, optional strapping and the RS 400 High Speed robot. High performance and minimum manual labor were basic requirements for the post press system. The ergonomic configuration perfectly matches these requirements. All machines are easy accessible, the conveyors are either high conveyors or built into the floor so that the floor space is kept clear. In addition the machines are equipped with automatic preset reducing the set-up time significantly. It is absolutely impressive to see the whole system produce 24p @ 140.000 cph. And with more than 1000 bundles/h in peak situations the robot makes sure all bundles safely find their way onto the pallet. The LEYKAM Let’s Print group is the biggest web printer in Austria and one of the biggest RIMA-SYSTEM customers with more than 10 palletizing robots installed. 16 Leykam Post Press System Click here to see Post Press live at Leykam. 17 Automation for Chinese Printers RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini connect press delivery and bindery Efficient Automation for Chinese Printers Complete workflow from web printing to finished books − RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini offer unique opportunities for Chinese printers The partnership of the two leading suppliers in press delivery (RIMA-SYSTEM) and in bindery (Müller Martini) closed the gap between press delivery and bindery. Customers can now discuss their needs with one project partner making sure that basic requirements, future expansions, degree of automation are completely understood and configured in order to shape the most efficient workflow. Until now in Chinese commercial web printing mostly 16p presses are used. Most of the web press production goes to bindery and is processed into books, magazines and catalogs. Good bundle quality, intelligent automation and easy to use machines are key factors for the press delivery configuration. This allows an optimized processing in the bindery and a reduced manning behind the press, both factors directly impacting the overall efficiency. RIMA-SYSTEM is perfectly matching these requirements. The widest Post Press product portfolio in the market gives the choice of different technologies and adjusted degrees of automation – from a moveable compensating stacker to a complete system with full automation. Since stream feeders are not standard in most binderies the products delivered from 18 the press should be easy to handle. In a first step a good compensating stacker can solve the problem. The RS 34S Lift Stacker is the perfect solution for compensated (or uncompensated) loose stacks. The servodriven lift technology allows a perfect control of the stack building process resulting in a convincing stack quality. The servo-pusher makes sure the stack is not misaligned during the push-out cycle. The operators can pile down the stacks without need of realigning them on the delivery table. In addition the lift stacker is also first choice for retail application which demand the delivery of compensated bundles directly off the press. This makes especially sense when combined with an in-line three-side trimming line. For all productions going to the bindery (books, magazines, catalogs,..) logs have shown to be advantageous – they keep the copies flat and compressed, the products in a log are protected and the storage of logs is easier and more efficient. Unfortunately nearly all log stackers only deliver long logs from 800-1200 mm. How to combine the advantages of logs with the requirements of manual feeding? The semi-automatic vertical ST2000 log stacker can build very short logs (down to 450 mm) which can easily be handled manually behind the press and in the bindery. In addition up to a log length of 600 mm logs in a standard magazine format logs can also be placed vertically on a pallet allowing easy feeding of the binders and stitchers. The ST2000 already automates the shingle control (waste gate, stream aligner and squeeze roller), the log separation and the log building. The operator places the endboards and activates the compressing and strapping process. Depending on the configuration the log can be picked-up manually (vertically or horizontally), by means of a hook or clamp (vertically or horizontally) or by means of an automatic palletizer (horizontally only). The migration from a manual palletizing solution to an automatic solution is possible. Click here to see the Post Press line live! RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini for Kraft-Schlötels Post Press in a new dimension for the biggest heatset press in the world It was the biggest order for a web offset press signed at Drupa 2012. This year the largest heatset press of the world – consisting of two 80p manroland Lithoman IV presses which can run in Duplex mode – is going into production at Kraft-Schlötels in Wassenberg, Germany. The press will be equipped with a highly modern and innovative Post Press, able to match the unique press performance. It will be realized by the Post Press specialists RIMA-SYSTEM and Müller Martini, cooperation partners since summer 2011. The total width of the two machines (4.5m) is more than the largest rotogravure presses. The huge amount of printed paper requires a proven Post Press technology with a performance never seen before. In addition reliable 24/7 production, high flexibility and intelligent back-ups are key requirements for this Post Press configuration. Behind the manroland folder a newly developed single-gripper system from MüllerMartini will pick-up the two shingled streams at 100.000cph and deliver the products to the finishing area with the RIMASYSTEM equipment. The products will then be trimmed, stacked, optionally strapped and finally palletized with four of the proven 4-axis robots from RIMA-SYSTEM. The whole configuration is highly accessible so it can be operated with minimum manning. Large retail orders, consisting of many locations (drop points with or without plate changes) are controlled by the JOB OPTIMIZER software. The software includes a real-time “pallet execution engine” that Click here to see the former Post Press line at Kraft-Schlötels ensures that every pallet is automatically built according to the specification for this drop point. It also guarantees that on twoline productions only a single “last” pallet is generated. This is realized by transferring stacks from one bundle line to the other at the end of the run. The JOB OPTIMIZER software will also be retrofitted on the two existing 72p presses at Kraft-Schlötels which are already equipped with Post Press from RIMA-SYSTEM. For Kraft-Schlötels (together with Westend Druck in Essen they form the WKS-Druckholding) this project is part of their strategy to make print and finishing more industrial and cost-effective. To do so they again invested in leading technologies – like the post press solution from their long-standing technology partner RIMA-SYSTEM. 19 rima-system.com