Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102

The Heidelberg CD 102 has been one of the company’s great success stories and is now one of the great work-horses of the printing industry.  Its solid construction ensures a very long life and makes it very popular on the second-hand market where printers appreciate the durability and quality of used Heidelberg CD 102 presses.  

First introduced in 1987 and aimed at the carton market, this versatile double circumference press has been constantly updated and improved.  The CD 102 is still in production.  Originally running at 11,000 sph this was increased to 13,000 sph in 1990 and to 15,000 sph by the middle of the decade.  Second-hand Heidelberg 102 CD presses in all versions can be sourced through pressXchange.  These include used four colour CD102, five colour CD102 and six colour CD 102 presses.

Productivity has soared over the years with increasing automation.  Autoplate and improvements in the computer control systems ensured this, and in 2004 improvements to the feed and delivery systems - Preset Plus - allowed settings to be made off the press.

The Heidelberg CD 102’s double circumference impression cylinders and the triple diameter transfer drums make this an ideal carton press, allowing substrates of up to 1 mm to be accommodated, but the introduction of an air-assisted transfer system allows even the thinnest stocks to be printed.

The most popular configurations are presses, CD 102-5 and CD102-6, often equipped with coaters and extended deliveries (CD 102-5+L,  CD 102-5+LX,  CD102-6+L and CD102-6+LX).

pressXchange.com normally lists around 80-90 used and second hand Heidelberg CD 102 machines.  These are offered by reputable sellers from 5 continents.  These can be from 2 to 10 colours, and used CD 102 presses manufactured as long ago as the late 80s are still producing work of fine quality.

Heidelberg Speedmaster CD74

Launched at Drupa 2000, the Speedmaster CD74 was introduced primarily as a packaging press and built using an entirely new design. However, over the past 10 years, the B2 machine has been tweaked to produce a number of different-format machines and printers have found various other applications for it.  Used and second-hand CD 74 presses are much sought after, from 2 colour CD 74 to 4-colour, 5 colour and 6 colour CD 74 models. 

The Heidelberg Speedmaster CD74 first made its entrance in 2000 at Drupa and was produced until it was superseded by the XL 75 in 2008.    Over 9,000 Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74 were produced in this time. CD originally stood for Carton Design, but the press has been modified over the years to handle a wide variety of stocks and is as likely to be found printing paper as card.

The SM 74 CD  originally ran at 16,000 sph but the feeder was later re-designed, giving owners the possibility to opt for an 18,000 sph press.  From the start the machine was designed to allow maximum automation including AutoPlate, Preset for feeder and delivery and nearly everything in between is automatically set and adjusted.    The high specification CP 2000 computer control system adds to the speed of make-ready, lowers waste and ensures that quality is maintained throughout the job.

The SM 74 CD handles a wide range of stocks  (from 0.03 to 0.8 mm) and was manufactured in two sizes, the more common C Format, used mainly in Europe, is 530 x 740 mm, while the F Format, often preferred in the USA, is 605 x 740 mm.  

Because of its robust design the Speedmaster CD 74 is highly prized on the second hand market, and a wide range of used Heidelberg SM 74 CD presses can be found on pressXchange, offered by some of the world’s most trusted dealers. 

The SM 74 CD handles a wide range of stocks  (from 0.03 to 0.8 mm) and was manufactured in two sizes, the more common C Format, used mainly in Europe, is 530 x 740 mm, while the F Format, often preferred in the USA, is 605 x 740 mm.  

Because of its robust design the Speedmaster CD 74 is highly prized on the second hand market, and a wide range of used Heidelberg SM 74 CD presses can be found on pressXchange, offered by some of the world’s most trusted dealers. 

Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74

The Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 range was introduced to replace the Speedmaster SM 72 range which came into production in the 1980s.  It is still in production and there is a healthy demand for used and secondhand Speedmaster SM 74 presses.

TIt was introduced as both a straight and a perfecting machine: the two colour Heidelberg SM 74-2, the four colour SM72-4, and the five colour SM 74-5 were soon joined by the six colour Speedmaster SM74-6 and, later, the eight colour SM74-8, while  perfecting versions included the SM 74-2P, the SM72-4P, SM 74-5P, SM74-6P and Speedmaster SM74-8P.  Coating became increasingly popular with the SM 74-4+L,   Speedmaster SM 74-4+LX,SM 74-6P+L, SM 74-5P+L and Speedmaster SM 74-5+L.

TCurrently Heidelberg produces only 2 and 4 colour SM 74 presses, which runs at up to 15,000 sph and is ideal for short-run jobs, with Autoplate, Prinect Press Center Compact and a fast feeder reducing make-ready times. It can be ordered in both high-pile and low-pile delivery.

Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52

Following the huge success of the Heidelberg GTO range, the SM 52, introduced in 1995, was aimed to produce a higher quality press and to ease B3 printers into the market for larger Speedmaster presses.  Complete with Autoplate as an option and running at 15,000 sph it easily outclassed its older stable-mate, proving in many cases to be twice as productive.

Heidelberg eventually produced a full range of presses from 2 colour, 4 colour, 5 colour up to  10 colours SM 52 presses with both perfecting and coating, but since the appearance of the SX 52 it now produces only two colour and four colour SM 52 presses.  Second-hand and used SM 52 presses have long been popular internationally, thanks to the ease of operation and flexibility of the presses.

Over 30,000 units have been sold globally, often to the smaller printer, and they remain extremely sought-after in the second-hand market.  Used SM 52 machines figure prominently in the list offered on pressXchange, with around 100 secondhand SM52 presses available at any one time (out of a total of around 600 used Speedmasters).  Specification has changed regularly over the years, but Autoplate and automatic blanket and impression cylinder wash have always been available, with Prinect computer controls introduced in 2000 and the Anicolor system with anilox inking introduced in 2007.  High pile deliveries became an option after 2008.

Of sturdy construction and with a top speed of 15,000 an hour, used SM 52 presses can be an excellent investment for growing printers and is often bought in preference to new and used Ryobi 520, Komori L20 and Shinohara 52 presses.

Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102

Launched in 1975, the Heidelberg SM 102 range was created to challenge the hold which Roland then had on the B1/40” market with its Roland Rekord range.  Heidelberg was late to come to producing offset litho presses, its energies having been concentrated on letterpress with the Heidelberg Cylinder and Platen ranges.

Over the last 40 years the range has undergone countless changes and improvements, and used and secondhand SM 102 machines still remains extremely popular and sought-after. In these days of long perfectors it is hard to imagine that up the 70s most colour production was done on single and two colour presses, and the Speedmaster 102 can take a lot of the credit for that. 2 colour and 4 colour SM 102 presses were the most common well into the late 80s at which time 5 and 6 colour Speedmaster SM 102-F and 102FP (SM 102-5 and SM 102-5 and SM 102-5P) and Speedmaster SM 102S and SM 102SP (SM102-6 and SM 102-6P) overtook them.

The success of the perfecting mechanism on the Speedmaster press contributed to making it the most successful range of sheetfed presses ever produced, and the uptake of the long perfectors which started to become popular in the early 1990 has transformed the industry. Used SM 102 presses and second hand Speedmasters have become a major contributor to the growth of print in many emerging markets.

Constant upgrades kept the SM102 at the head of the field.  These included Alcolor in 1977, CPC computer controls and then CPTronic in the 1980 followed in 1991 by the Autoplate automatic plate-changing device.  The CIP3 processor, Preset and the CP2000 press console followed in the late 1990 and early 2000s, allowing the Speedmaster feeder to be remotely set.

In stages, the Speedmaster SM 102 evolved from the original 2 and 4 colour presses (SM 102Z, SM 102ZP, SM 102V and SM 102 VP) to the 12 colour perfector available from 2000, with ever more sophisticated coating and drying options.  The introduction of the Speedmaster CD 102 in the 1980s meant that fewer “Classic” machines were produced, and the SM 102 has now been replaced by the highly successful XL 105 and XL 106 ranges for long perfectors and the Speedmaster CX 102  and SM CS 102.
 
There are plenty of dealers trading in used Heidelberg Speedmaster. At the time of writing, there were 90 second hand SM 102 advertised on PressXchange by some of the world’s most respected dealers.

Heidelberg GTO, HeidEleberg Printmaster PM 52

It was early days for Heidelberg offset when the GTO 46 was introduced in 1972; the “GT” in fact stands for Grosse Tiegle – the GT letterpress platen which is was meant to replace.  Soon the GTOZ, GTOZP, GTOV and GTOVP 46 joined the stable.  Before this time the only Heidleberg offerings had been the K-line presses – the KOR, KORA, KORD and KORS presses.

In 1980 arrived the GTO 52 range with maximum sheet size of 350x520mm; initially this comprised just the Heidelberg GTOZ 52, GTOZP 52, GTOV 52 and GTOVP 52 presses, though  the GTF 52 and GTOFP 52 five colours soon followed.

The GTO is a very flexible press aimed at the smaller printer or, at least, his smaller jobs, and found a role producing letterheads, flyers, small brochures and business cards.  The option to have a GTO 52 numbering and perforating unit or a GTO 46 numbering unit added to the demand for these presses.
With a single-sheet feeder similar to the letterpress cylinders and K-lines it could achieve only 8,000 sheets per hour (sph).  Before long multicolour versions and a stream feeder were introduced, along with a laser slit ink ducts, aimed at producing faster make-ready times. 

From its earliest days, used GTO and second hand GTO models of all kinds proved very popular on the pre-owned market.

Following the introduction of the SM 52 in 1995 the GTO was relegated to a secondary position, and later renamed to Printmaster GTO 52 and given a more basic specification.  Over time, various configurations were discontinued and it has now been replaced entirely by the Speedmaster SM 52, Speedmaster SX 52 and the Speedmaster SX 52 Anicolor.  Now second-hand GTO, GTOZ and GTOZP along with used GTOV, used GTOP and GTOFP presses remain very popular with printers worldwide looking for a sturdy and productive gateway to the B3 colour market.

Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 52, SX 74 and SX 102

First introduced at Drupa 2012, the Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 74 was aimed at print companies who are seeking to upgrade from the SM 74 and SM 72 ranges.

Heidelberg’s Speedmaster SX range sits between the standard SM range and its high-end XL machines.

Ideal for short-run jobs thanks to the high level of automation, it can print on a range of stock thicknesses from 0.03 mm to board of 0.6 mm thickness, making it a versatile press ideal for printing and packaging markets.              
 
Comprising the SX 52, SX 74 and SX 102, the SX range offers presses in the B3 format, B2 and up to B1 (720 x 1000 mm). All presses are far more productive than the earlier SM series but less costly than the XL 75 and the XL 105.   The SX52, SX 74 and SX 102 are ideal perfecting presses, building on Heidelberg’s long experience in that area, and the high level of technology allows all the presses to run at maximum sped without compromising quality.   Running at 15,000 sph the SX74 is available both with and without perfecting, with and without coating and in versions from 2 to 10 units. 
Full automation, Preset, Autoplate, Venturi paper-guide technology and auto-washes ensure a very short make-ready time, and the Prinect press management system allows management to check on the status of the SX press and of jobs remotely.
The most popular configurations seem to be 5 colour and 6 colour presses, but the 8 colour is increasingly being ordered.  
These include a new surface technology for the replaceable impression and transfer cylinder jackets – PerfectJacket Blue and TransferJacket Blue – ensuring greater longevity and extended wash-up intervals.
 
Designed to be “green”, this eco-friendly press uses less power and the damping system is designed to use a minimum of alcohol.

Manroland 900

The launch in 1995 of the 900 series saw Manroland abandon in large format presses the common impression/5 cylinder configuration which it had espoused since the Second World War.  The success of the Heidelberg Speedmaster range and the flexibility which unit construction brought had led them to introducing the R700 range in 1990, and it was logical to extend this to the 5, 6 and, later, larger formats and abandon the Manroland 800 series.  The change to unit construction allowed much more automation to be introduced, including automatic plate loading, auto washes and improved register controls.

Format 5 and 6 presses were the first to be introduced, with size 7, 7B and, eventually, 8 being added as the decade progressed.  The presses have the reputation of being sturdily built and very reliable, and pre-owned and used Manroland 904, 905 and 906 are doing great work all over the world.

But second-hand Manroland 900 presses are rarely available in the market as, compared to used 700 series machines, relatively few have been made.  Used  and second-hand large format KBA and Mitsubishi  presses are more abundant as, many people feel, Manroland was too slow in entering the market. 

Currently Manroland sells the 5 and 6 format presses as the Roland 900 HiPrint and the monster 7, 7B and 8 Format presses as the Roland 900 XXL

MAN Roland 700

The MAN Roland (now Manroland) 700 series machines were introduced at Drupa 1990.  They were the first unit presses that Man Roland had made and were considered a considerable advance on the  5 cylinder/common impression cylinder models they had previously made – the Roland Favorit, Roland Parva, Roland Rekord and Roland 600 series.  Used 704, 705 and 706 presses are readily available on the secondhand market.
  
In many ways the Manroland R700 was a quantum leap forward, with fibre-optic connections and many digitised features that made it arguable the most advanced press at the time.  Automation was built into it from the very start; it was a huge leap forward in press control with an automated digital control console.  The current offering from Manroland, occasionally available used on the secondhand market, is the ROLAND 700 HiPrint with DirectDrive technology.  These now run at a staggering 17,000 sph. Most used and secondhand Manroland 700 presses run at a print speed of 16,000 sheets per hour straight and 12,000 sheets per hour perfecting.

DirectDrive is a servo-based concept which enables units to be run independently, allowing all plates to be loaded at the same time, while blankets are washed simultaneously.

MAN Roland 200

The 200 series was introduced by what was then Roland in the 1980 to replace the very successful Roland Favorit range.  At the time many considered it to be of less robust design than its predecessor but it has in fact proved the critics wrong: it was manufactured until 2002 and used and secondhand R202 and R204 presses remain popular with printers building up their capacity in the B2/28” market.

The Roland 200’s double-diameter transfers and impression cylinders make it able to handle heavier stock, and the RCI remote control inking and register system was technically advanced for its time.  It was smaller brother to the Man Roland 600 and the R 800 , and uses many technologies that were ahead of its time when it was launched. 

With its ability to handle a very wide range of stocks, used and secondhand Manroland 202 and 204 presses remain popular with printers worldwide as they can offer its services for printing from light stocks through stationery to cardboard printers.  It can also print stocks ranging from 0.04 to 0.8mm.
The compact design with an optional built-in low pile delivery make it a useful press where space is limited, and the running speed of 12,000 sph, later increased to 13,000 sph, made it one of the fastest presses then on the market.

In 2002 the 200, which is a 5-cylinder common impression press, was replaced by the more sophisticated 200E series.  This was closely based on the successful Manroland 700 presses, and unit construction offered more flexibility for perfecting options and also for the introduction of more automation including washes, remote controlled register, auto plate loading and more automation.

MAN Roland R300

First introduced at Ipex in 1993 and manufactured until 2005 the MAN Roland R300 has proved a successful and popular press.  The oversized B2 press is also sought-after as a second hand press, with used MAN Roland R300 4 colour, 5 colour and 6 colour presses being particularly common.  Secondhand eight and ten colour R308 and R310 presses have also been available. 

Unlike the longer established Roland 200 series, the 300 is a unit press and was destined to prove successful with B2 commercial printers. Used Manroland R304, R305 and R306 continue to be sold secondhand in many developing print markets with its relatively high level of automation including the PECOM computer control system, Miller perfecting technology and auto plate loading.  It incorporated many of the designs now found on current MAN Roland 500, 700 and 900 presses.

The press was also fast, initially running at 15,000 sph in both perfecting and straight modes, a speed increased to 16,000 for straight production in 2002.  Many presses were delivered with perfecting units, and perfecting was indeed one of its strengths. 

The Growth in the Market for used Large Format Inkjet Printers

In recent years a strong and expanding market has developed in used UV flatbed digital wide format printers. Graham Thompson of Matoria, a UK company specialising in this field, says that many printers are using second-hand presses as a good way to break into this lucrative market or to expand their capacity in it.

Graham points out that, in the last 10 years, the technology on these inkjet printers has developed considerably, and the manufacturers no longer control the used market. Skilled independent engineers and print demonstrators now ensure that installations can proceed smoothly without the intervention of the big manufacturers like Océ, Agfa, Canon, HP, Screen, Durst and Inca.

Flatbed UV inkjet wide format printers are unique in handling a very wide range of substrates and so can be used for many applications. Their growing sophistication has meant that recent and well-maintained used digital presses are a very good alternative to new and with their reliability represent a real investment.

Engineers trained by the manufacturers of UV flatbed printers but now working independently are available throughout the UK and most of Europe, and spare parts are readily available. The ability to source third party inks at a considerable discount from those offered by the inkjet manufacturers has also helped the growth in this market, says Graham. The existence of specialist dealers like Matoria who understand the technology and can support those entering this sector for the first time can also be of great reassurance.

Various machines run at different speeds, with various qualities achievable depending on the speed at which the flatbed UV printer is run. There is a very substantial cost-saving over new, with the average used press selling at somewhere between £30-50,000. This price is similar to that for the hybrid and roll-to-roll UV inkjet very large format printers.