Heidelberg Unveils New Diecutter and Folding Carton Gluing Machines at Packaging Days

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—November 26, 2014—Last week, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) presented several new solutions for folding carton production at the Packaging Days event at the company’s Wiesloch-Walldorf site. "While the packaging sector is growing in emerging markets, we are seeing consolidation and productivity increases in industrialized countries," explained Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. "The packaging market is of great interest to us. We meet its needs with appropriate press and postpress products and also with our Prinect Postpress Packaging print shop workflow," he added.

The event was aimed at folding carton producers that require optimum quality and reliability for short to medium runs. The new Promatrix 106 CS diecutter and the new Diana Smart 55 and Diana Smart 80 folding carton gluing machines showcased by Heidelberg are perfect for this target group.

The Promatrix 106 CS, which was operated in conjunction with the new Speedmaster CD 102 at the Packaging Days, performs diecutting and embossing at a speed of 8,000 sheets per hour. It is intended for manufacturers of folding cartons in short to medium runs and also for commercial print shops that occasionally produce packaging. Thanks to the diecutter’s short makeready times, users benefit from high productivity and excellent cost-efficiency. It can handle a wide range of materials—from 90 all the way up to 2,000 grams per square meter—and also processes corrugated board up to four millimeters (0.16 inches) thick. The 760×1,060 millimeter (29.92×41.73") format of the Promatrix 106 CS makes it the ideal postpress counterpart for the Speedmaster XL 106. The machine offers a wide range of standard features, extremely user-friendly operation, and an excellent price-performance ratio.

Other items in the sales portfolio include the Varimatrix 82 CS and Varimatrix 105 C/CS.

Over 5,000 folding carton gluing machines from the Diana family have already been installed across the globe. Two new additions—the Diana Smart 55 and Diana Smart 80—are now joining the Diana X 80 and Diana X 115 in the product portfolio. The figures forming part of the product name refer to the maximum carton width in centimeters. The Diana Smart 80, which is primarily of interest to folding carton manufacturers that produce cartons in short and medium runs, was on show at the Packaging Days. It is used for straightline and lockbottom cartons. Equipped with the Diana Inspection Control and Diana Braille modules, it will be producing pharmaceutical cartons.

The new Diana Smart 55 folding carton gluing machine replaces the Diana 45 and is suitable for folding carton manufacturers that produce small cartons for the pharmaceuticals or cosmetics sector in short and medium runs. The Diana Smart 55 now also optionally offers the latest technologies for this small working width in the shape of the Diana Braille and Diana Inspection Control modules.

Tried-and-tested components from the successful Diana X series have been adapted for the Diana Smart 55 and Diana Smart 80 to make them more compact. The Diana Smart is designed for a maximum speed of 450 meters (1,476 feet) per minute, which means it produces around 140,000 cartons per hour. By way of comparison, the Diana X produces over 200,000 cartons per hour. The Diana Smart has a modular structure and can be tailored to each customer’s specific circumstances. For example, it can be equipped with the Diana Pile Turner, the Diana Feeder, the Diana Packer or the FAS 480 packing aid. The machine scores highly with its very short makeready times, excellent accessibility, and high-production quality. What’s more, all relevant settings can be stored for repeat jobs.

The Heidelberg folding carton gluing portfolio also includes the entry-level Easygluer 100 machine.

Promatrix and Diana Smart are results of the partnership agreement recently concluded with Chinese manufacturer Masterwork Machinery Co. Ltd. (MK) and will be sold exclusively by Heidelberg. MK will work on further advances in the die-cutting and folding carton gluing technologies and products developed by Heidelberg in recent years and incorporate these in new products in the future.

“Our sales staff will work closely with MK’s product management team to ensure that new products meet our customers’ technical and economic requirements,” stated Harald Weimer, member of the Management Board responsible for Sales and Heidelberg Services. “The product portfolio will continue to evolve in the medium term, so that we can offer the right machines and solutions to meet all our customers’ needs for effective folding carton production, including the appropriate service activities. Our customers will have the same Heidelberg contacts as before and will still have access to our global sales and service network,” he concluded.