Australian world 1st with 2nd MAN Roland 700 12-colour
The new press, which is an identical configuration to the first, (pictured) is scheduled for installation in March, continuing Australia’s love affair with the large perfecting format. It will take its place alongside another six-colour MAN Roland and boost the company’s production capacity by more than a third.
According to Kevin Hislop, general manager Chippendale Printing, the decision to buy another press vindicates the original choice. He says an increase in the amount of six-colour printing work drove the original decision and the volume of work has grown steadily since then.
“We wouldn’t buy another if the first one didn’t work or the demand wasn’t there,” he said. “We were quite green in regard to perfecting when we began but MAN Roland were very good and supported us with training.”
He said the company operates the existing 12-colour 700 24/7 with four teams comprising a press operator and an offsider. A press operator has already been to Germany to get up to speed on some of the advancements on the latest model.
John Hanson , general manager Print, IPP Print& Pack, (pictured) is understandably chuffed with the second order from Chippendale. “There is no better recommendation from a customer than a follow-up order. It’s a vote of confidence in the technology,” he said.
He believes long perfecting presses represent the future of the sheetfed market. With reduced manning, zero work in progress and at least 80 per cent more productivity as opposed to conventional presses, the long perfector has unique advantages.
“Any serious commercial printer must be considering it. You’re getting more than two six-colour presses with half the footprint and manning levels,” he said.
Among the advantages of the MAN Roland press he points out the OptiJacket technique of maintaining the same quality print on both sides of the sheet, a high level of automation and a colour control system that includes both densitometry and spectrophotometry.
Although reluctant to put a price on the equipment he agrees it is a multi-million dollar purchase, and nominated companies that are growing as a result of mergers as the most likely candidates to buy. He says he is looking forward to further orders throughout the year.
The new press, which is an identical configuration to the first, (pictured) is scheduled for installation in March, continuing Australia’s love affair with the large perfecting format. It will take its place alongside another six-colour MAN Roland and boost the company’s production capacity by more than a third.
John Hanson , general manager Print, IPP Print& Pack, (pictured) is understandably chuffed with the second order from Chippendale. “There is no better recommendation from a customer than a follow-up order. It’s a vote of confidence in the technology,” he said.