Heidelberg is launching ‘cost-effective’ folder

Heidelberg will launch a new folding machine, the Stahlfolder CH 56 KT, which it says will enable businesses to achieve the ‘best folding results for flyers in 50x70cm format’. With the same touchscreen controls as its predecessor – Stahlfolder BH/CH series – the new folding machine is built with ‘end-to-end intelligent automation’ and can complete five repeat folding jobs of 500 to 1,000 copies each. Speaking with the Australian Printer, Brian Evans, Heidelberg post-press product manager Australia and New Zealand, says, “The Stahlfolder CH 56 KT will fill some holes in our product range and we believe it will attract A3 and A2 commercial printers as well as digital printers.” He says the folder will appeal to customers looking to produce short runs in B2 format cost-effectively, while still ensuring added value and quality control as part of their own offset and/or digital production processes. “Stahlfolder CH 56 KT folding machines incorporate performance enhancing technology such as extra grip folding rollers, Tremat sheet separator, and the slip-free gear drive for the folding rollers, which makes it simpler to use, ensure high folding quality and suitable for short-run applications,” a Heidelberg spokesperson says. “The operator only needs to enter the new job on the touchscreen for the front edge stop in the cross-fold unit to automatically move into position. The buckle plate and folding rollers are set to the right format and grammage.” The company says the automated parallel folding unit is accompanied for the first time in this format by an automated cross-fold unit, which achieves very short makeready times. Heidelberg says this feature simplifies the operator’s work when setting up small folding jobs, as there is no need for any manual intervention. The Stahlfolder CH 56 KT folding machine, the company says, can be customized with various options and modules to meet printer’s individual needs, ‘for example with two feeder types and 4 or 6 buckle plates in the parallel folding unit’. Heidelberg says the new machine also uses the ‘well-established’ modular control technology (MCT), which ensures its compatibility with existing Heidelberg deliveries. Evans says the new folding machine, which is also available in a CO₂-neutral version, will be available in the market late 2015.