Finishing & Screen Printing
The new digital varnishing machines of the dmax family from Steinemann Technology are attracting great interest on the market
Wednesday 04. May 2016 - By far the fastest offline varnishing systems on the market / Optional modules for full-flood varnishing, bar codes, Braille and personalisation / In future also with foil stamping and as reel-to-reel and reel-to-sheet systems / First machines already ordered
The new varnishing machines for narrower sheet formats, promised by Steinemann for drupa 2016, are attracting great interest on the market. The first systems were already ordered ahead of the event, immediately after the new series was announced. Steinemann offers the dmax 76c as a highly attractive entry-level model for sheet sizes up to 76 x 76 cm and with a capacity of up to 6,000 sheets per hour. By Speed Upgrade, the capacity can later be boosted to as much as 10,000 sheets per hour, as demanded in industrial applications. So, even the smallest model of the dmax series is clearly the fastest and most productive offline varnishing system on the market – in addition to which, it can grow to keep pace with increasing demands. All dmax systems will in future also be available with the latest generation of high-speed cameras, permitting sheet detection without special print marks and electronic register correction for every single sheet. Beyond this, the bigger dmax models can be equipped with various options that turn the machines into versatile all-rounders – also by retrofitting. Steinemann will be giving live presentations of a dmax 106 on its stand in Hall 1 at drupa 2016.
Among the options for the big dmax models are a roller-type unit for full-flood varnishing with standard varnishes, offering customers the possibility of flexibly choosing between digital spot varnishing and full-flood varnish application for different jobs in their day-to-day operations. Particularly for packaging printing, Steinemann also integrates optional modules with bar code printers and camera systems for the labelling of packagings, as well as additional varnishing heads for the application of standard-compliant Braille lettering. Last but not least, the company also offers an upgrade that allows the individual sheets to be personalised or individualised with fully variable data, even at high speeds.
“Our developers and design engineers are currently working flat out on integrating our new dfoil technology into the big dmax systems. In future, this option will allow the application of foils and simultaneous spot varnishing in a single pass. The first system with dfoil technology will be installed on the customer’s premises in mid-2017,” announces Christof Stürm, CEO of Steinemann Technology AG in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
“With more than 850 machines installed around the world, we’re in a constant, intensive dialogue with our customers regarding the current and future development of the market’s demands. Against that backdrop, we’re now working on numerous modules to integrate further functions into our dmax systems. This integrative, modular approach has obvious advantages for our customers: our dmax systems enable them to realise several processing steps in a single pass and, at the same time, to benefit from lower investment and operating costs, as well as a small space requirement. On top of which, the multi-functional design of our finishing systems allows customers to use them flexibly for various applications. They can start by investing in low-cost digital equipment and later expand it step by step,” says Ludwig Allgoewer, Head of Digital Varnishing at Steinemann, describing his company’s philosophy regarding the further expansion of the capabilities of the dmax systems.
And the dmax family is continuing to grow: Steinemann will soon be rounding it off with roll-to-roll and roll-to-sheet versions, thereby uniquely covering the different demands of the market on the digital varnishing of print products.