Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 with Anicolor Short Inking Unit Field-Tested in Switzerland

Both Directors believe the test phase has gone extremely well so far. “For runs of less than one thousand, Anicolor helps reduce printing costs by around 30 percent. What’s more, fast make-ready times and low wastage mean that even small runs of 50 to 60 are now viable, whereas these would previously have been typical applications for digital printing.”

Anicolor short inking unit - innovative technology

The Anicolor short inking unit developed by Heidelberg avoids ghosting. There is only a single inking form roller in the zoneless Anicolor inking unit. This provides each printing element on the plate with the precise volume of ink required throughout the entire run, thus applying completely smooth print areas to the printing stock. The Anicolor inking unit’s efficient temperature control system means that the amount of ink applied to the relevant printing materials can easily be adapted over the entire printing form. When used in combination with the Alcolor continuous dampening system, Anicolor is an internationally unique system and ensures excellent printing quality, outstanding consistency in the production run, and easy operation. The more standardized print job processing is, the more the strengths of this system come into their own.

Furthermore, existing systems can still be used for plate imaging. The sheet travel of the Speedmaster SM 52 remains unchanged. The exceptional diversity of printing materials and high production speeds means that longer runs can be handled quickly, too.