Report 36 d,e,f,s,i.qxd:Report - KBA

the fount solution in a moment’s
aberration was nipped in the bud by
the simple expedient of removing
all alcohol measuring and monitoring
kit. Only ecologically approved
inks based on vegetable oils are run
on the press. The cloth-based washing
system, which dramatically cuts
the consumption of washing agent
compared to a brush-based system,
is a further contribution towards
greener production – as is the LogoTronic
networking software for
press preset. Hans-Martin Heider,
one of the fourth-generation family
members heading the company, is
delighted to report that “As a result,
a lot of the products we print are of
saleable quality from the very first
sheet.”
Closed-loop inline
colour control
To help minimise waste the press
incorporates a QualiTronic colour
control system that scans every
sheet and automatically adjusts
colour density values accordingly.
The press is also linked to a Densi-
Tronic Professional system that
measures colorimetric values in the
measuring strips or directly in the
printed image, and carries out
the relevant adjustments. This continuous,
integrated quality control
package enabled the company to
achieved PSO accreditation in summer
2009.
The economic impact of the
new Rapida 106 became apparent
within a few weeks of its production
start. The average print output
across the board (short and long
runs) climbed well above the
10,000sph mark. Whenever possible
the Rapida 106 is run at its maximum
speed of 18,000sph. Most of
the short- and medium-run work is
Heider Druck’s “ecological printing” logo
reflects its environmental credentials
Even though quality monitoring with QualiTronic colour control eliminates the need for
adjustments at the ink keys, Michael Dörpinghaus still checks the sheets out of sheer habit
For Benjamin Ommerborn, pumping out 18,000 sheets per hour on the Rapida 106 is a cinch
scheduled on this press in order to
make the most of its high-speed job
changes. Its advanced level of automation,
which encompasses plate
changing, suction-ring positioning,
height-adjustable nonstop rollers
and sidelay-free SIS infeed, has
boosted output by almost 40 per
cent compared to its predecessors.
Sustainability does
not preclude finishing
The Rapida 106 offers a raft of additional
benefits over the company’s
previous presses, which
were two-and four-colour B1 (41in)
and B2 (29in) models. For example,
it is possible to apply a special
colour in the fifth printing unit and
a standard aqueous coating in the
coater, or a matt paste in the fifth
unit followed by a matt/gloss aqueous
coating to create a drip-off effect.
So Heider Druck’s ecological
bent certainly doesn’t preclude
value-added finishing options. In
fact the company is keen to move
upmarket, away from high-volume,
low-margin products. Wherever
possible it seeks to provide premium-quality
products expressly tailored
to customers’ needs. This goal
dictates the processes within the
company: the broad range of services
offered encompasses product
design, image processing, editing,
mailing, proofreading, addressing,
numbering (eg for prize draws in
freesheets), inserting and attaching
(eg packets of seeds in or on direct
mail).
Farsighted investment
Heider Verlag is headed by Hans
Heider senior and his third son,
Roberto. Their portfolio encompasses
publications on business and
social politics, books of regional interest
and pictorial volumes. Alongside
ad acquisition the media
Thomas Walder printing one of many
freesheet titles on the Journal tower
An 18,000m² plot of land acquired in the 1950s
offers plenty of room for further growth
services the company also provides
for its print customers include ad
management.
At present Heider has almost
6,000m² (65,000ft²) of production
space at its disposal. Since a plot of
land acquired by Hans Heider senior’s
father is more than three
times as big, there is ample room
for healthy growth. “We are a dynamic
enterprise with ambitious
plans for the future, so it’s good to
have plenty of reserves for future
expansion,” declares Roberto Heider.
The publishing house and printing
plant employ a total of 90
permanent staff, and there are also
part-timers and temps. Print production
normally runs in two shifts,
though this is increased to three
whenever there is a surge in incoming
orders.
Martin Dänhardt
martin.daenhardt@kba.com
Report 36 | 2010 27