A massive manroland web Lithoman 80-page press going into Ive Group’s new Franklin Web business in Sydney is customised for high-volume catalogue printing. The 4-unit press dramatically raises the stakes in the fiercely contested market following major market consolidation.
According to Warwick Hay, Ive Group managing director, the new investment is aimed at making the non-stop production as efficient as possible. “The Lithoman definitely turned out to be the best-in-class press for our demands. We will be able to produce high-volume catalogues runs with lower cost-per-copy and waste rates while at the same time increasing the printing quality.”
The deal continues a long relationship between Ive Group and the Augsburg-based manroland web company. Tim Ruth, executive vice president sales at manroland web systems (MWS), maintains the new press future-proofs Ive Group for new market demands.
“We are very happy about the decision for a further MWSvpress in Australia, which is a great market for us. Especially at the high-volume commercial sector, we see a great development for the next years. With their decision for our Lithoman 80-page press, Ive will be perfectly equipped for the new market requirements.”
In a press relase MWS detailed the advantages of the new press. The 80-page high-volume press with 4 printing units has a web width of 2060 mm and a maximum production speed of 50.000 Cyl.rev/h. It will mainly produce catalogues. The Lithoman will be equipped with several automation features such as automatic plate loading (APL), an automatic reel handling system and several Inline Control Systems to reduce waste and costs while increasing the printing quality.
The Lithoman is the worldwide leader at the high-quality, high-volume segment. With its state-of-the-art drive and folding technology and groundbreaking automation features, over 400 Lithoman systems are at work today, printing magazines, catalogues, directories, and advertising supplements. From 32 to 96 pages, in short or long grain: the Lithoman’s productivity helps to establish web offset printing even among a growing group of gravure printers
A second large format web offset press will also be installed at Franklin Web's Seven Hills site but according to Ive Group ‘the specification for this press has not yet been finalized.’ Both new presses will be fitted with inline finishing and highly automated materials handling systems.
Franklin Web in Melbourne is already producing on two MWS Lithoman presses of the same kind. Ive’s Blue Star Web has ordered a new manroland 5 colour Rotoman 16 page A4 web offset press that will be commissioned at its Silverwater, NSW plant by October 2017. The Rotoman is described as ‘the most advanced and automated heatset web offset press in the country.’
Ive Group has evolved from a family-owned print production business in the early 1920’s to ‘Australia’s most diversified print and marketing communications business,’ with an annual revenue of $370 million and over 1,300 employees. The company creates, designs, produces and manages tailored print solutions across all channels.