Heidelberg Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Printmaster GTO 52 Launch

The eight staff use the GTO presses for very short runs, art prints, letterheads, flyers, and brochures for customers in the region and other print shops that no longer support the 36 x 52 cm format. Foto-Litho-Jäger systematically focuses on sustainable print production based on alcohol-free printing on FSC-certified paper and 100 percent green electricity.

Ongoing further development ensures state-of-the-art features

New developments such as the Prinect Classic Center or the alcohol-free direct continuous dampening system for eco-friendly printing ensure that the Printmaster GTO 52 continues to enjoy market success even after 40 years. The Prinect Classic Center combines precision with straightforward operation. The membrane keypad on the user-friendly central console is used for all ink and register settings. Settings can also be stored for repeat jobs.

The excellent print quality is achieved thanks to a high-volume inking unit with a storage capacity of 1:6.5 for high-quality processing of solid colors. Four oscillating inking form rollers help prevent ghosting, which is a particular advantage on surfaces with negative cut-outs. The alcohol-free direct continuous dampening system has an extended working window that applies a thin, even film of dampening solution for a fast and stable ink/water balance.

What’s more, the inking and dampening system can be washed in a single pass. Bearer to bearer pressure between plate and blanket cylinder enable precise transfer of the print image onto the substrate, while high-precision Heidelberg printing units ensure a long service life and the robust design for which the GTO is renowned.

GTO product development:

• 1972 - drupa: Launch of the single-color GTO in the 320 x 460 mm (12.60 x 18.11 in) format
• 1977 - drupa: Launch of the first four-color GTO
• 1980 - First GTO 52 in the 360 x 520 mm (14.17 x 20.47 in) sheet format
• 1984 - Market launch of the first GTO models with Alcolor dampening system
• 1986 - drupa: Launch of the GTO 52 five-color press
• 1990 - drupa: Launch of the first fully digitized five-color GTOF-S with CPTronic, stream feeder, and a print output of 12,000 sheets/hour
• 1995 - drupa: New GTO series with single-, two-, and four-color models
• 2000 - drupa: GTO models in a new design
• 2002 - Launch of the Prinect Classic Center (remote control for inking and register)
• 2009 - Streamlining of models: Four standard models with standardized configuration for the Printmaster GTO 52 press series: GTO 52-1, GTO 52-2, GTO 52-4, and GTO 52-4 with Prinect Classic Center
• 2012 - Anniversary press to mark 40 years of the Printmaster GTO 52

Source: Heidelberg.