Tecnau line to process output from Océ ColorStream 6900 Chroma Twin inkjet web press from Canon.

Printsystem has just put an automatic Tecnau cutting line into operation at its headquarters in Heimsheim, near Stuttgart (Germany). The company will use the Tecnau line to process the output from a newly installed Océ ColorStream 6900 Chroma Twin inkjet web press from Canon.

Established in 1979, Printsystem currently employs more than 50 people in Heimsheim and at a branch in downtown Berlin. Most of its production is digital. In addition to the new inkjet press, Printsystem also has 14 sheetfed digital printing systems and one sheetfed offset press. Industrial enterprises, publishers, advertising agencies, educational institutions, public authorities, ministries and – last but not least – the German Bundestag and the European Central Bank are among the customers of this family owned firm. The main emphasis of the portfolio is on low to medium-volume print-on-demand jobs as well as end-to-end production of technical documentation, educational materials, magazines, books, catalogues, brochures and official documents.

Printsystem operates the new Tecnau cutting line as a near-line installation adjacent to the inkjet press. The line is configured with an Unwinder 550, a Cutter c23, a Stacker s25, an exit conveyor and a waste extraction unit. The printed web is precisely cut in 1-up paper sheets stacked and ready for binding without any additional side trimming.

New Tecnau Stacker s25: a key component in repeatable product quality

The new Tecnau s25 high performance stacker gently grips the sheeted output stacking a variety of coated or uncoated stocks from 40 to 300 gsm with ±0.5 mm accuracy at high speed.

Tecnau has equipped the Stacker s25 with a new gripper system. This system transports the sheets that are output by the cutter at high speeds carefully and safely to the stacker’s stop device and brings them to a standstill. The gripper mechanism prevents damage to the prints, especially in heavy ink coverage applications. The Stacker s25 is thus a natural choice for graphic arts production.

“We were looking for a high performance cutting line to support our entry into web printing with the ColorStream 6900. We chose Tecnau because, in our opinion, they offer very good technology and excellent value for money. In terms of ease of operation, quality and flexibility, the Tecnau line meets our requirements perfectly,” says Oliver Harfensteller, a member of the Printsystem Management Board.

“We’re delighted that our automatic cutting line is helping Printsystem to succeed in the inkjet business. It’s a reliable, robust solution for high performance cutting and stacking that perfectly complements the capabilities of the production inkjet press,” comments Robert Gubo, Area Manager Germany and Switzerland at Tecnau.

Just like the inkjet press, the Tecnau cutting line installed at Printsystem can handle and process a broad array of materials. Apart from offset and recycled papers weighing between 50 to 130 gsm, it is also used for coated stocks ranging from 115 to 130 gsm. “Since the Tecnau line works extremely precisely, we can cut a lot of our products to size straight away, eliminating extra trimming typically required, for example, for applications such as wire-o or plastic comb binding,” Harfensteller explains. “We save both time and money.”

Highly satisfied with the overall system, comprised of the inkjet web press and the Tecnau cutting line, Printsystem now plans to pursue its business with direct mail and personalized products more intensively. “Direct mail has been a comparatively small market segment for us up to now. We want to take advantage of the possibilities that the new line gives us to get ahead in this market and leverage its technical refinements to realize further efficiency gains and value added for our customers,” Harfensteller emphasizes.