Cutting-Edge U.S. Installation of New Web Offset Press Helps Pioneer LED UV Curing in Book Printing

From left, showcasing LED UV know-how on B&B’s new press are Baldwin’s Jonathan Fore and Craig Black and B&B’s John Galligan and Rick Dunn.

Baldwin Know-how’s LED UV know-how blazes path straight out of the field on Bradford & Bigelow’s latest press

NEWBURYPORT, Massachusetts — North America’s latest high-speed net offset press doesn’t have a gasoline dryer. Because of a pioneering buy by Bradford & Bigelow of a Manroland Goss Lithoman IV press outfitted with a complicated LED-curing system from Baldwin Know-how’s AMS Spectral UV model. This mix of firms has introduced a brand new vanguard to the high-speed net offset market.

Bradford & Bigelow, based mostly in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is one in every of North America’s main printers of 8.5 x 11-inch textbooks and workbooks used for Ok-12 schooling. The brand new press is its second Lithoman. In response to the printer, after producing books for years on a Lithoman, it was a simple resolution for B&B to decide on one other Manroland Goss press.

B&B has been a pioneer in using UV inks. A number of years in the past, the printer transformed its sheetfed and Timsons net presses to AMS Spectral UV’s LED UV ink know-how efficiently. Nevertheless, the know-how had not been perfected for higher-speed webs just like the Manroland Goss that run north of 30,000 impressions per hour.

Since then, LED UV ink know-how has continued to enhance and the B&B staff together with St. Louis, Missouri-based Baldwin and Manroland Goss, headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, determined the time was proper for B&B to be the beta web site for this breakthrough know-how on higher-speed net presses.

LED curing gives course of enhancements like immediately cured ink, shorter make-readies, and fewer paper waste, plus environmental and security advantages, a major discount in power consumption, no VOCs or have to exhaust oven air, and plenty of extra. However the obvious change is changing a 45-foot oven and chill unit with a 36-inch LED system.

“It’s like changing one thing longer than a college bus with one thing the dimensions of a barbecue grill,” said Craig Black, Baldwin VP Gross sales, Americas.

Printers might surprise in the event that they should surrender press efficiency once they transfer to LED.

“Under no circumstances,” mentioned Jonathan Fore, Director of Product Administration at Baldwin. “Our XP Quatro LED system is highly effective sufficient to run these extensive, high-speed net offset presses as quick as you’ll be able to.” Bradford & Bigelow confirmed this, saying that the newly commissioned press is working nicely over 30,000 impressions an hour, with the LEDs not even set to full energy.

Utilizing LED curing on a brand new, high-speed net offset press was so distinctive that Bradford & Bigelow wanted to ensure there can be sufficient LED ink for the thousands and thousands of schoolbooks they print every year. The printer discovered what it wanted from Common Colour. The Woburn, Massachusetts-based firm not solely proved its LED ink would remedy at prime press speeds, but in addition assured B&B’s annual provide of inks.

“This breakthrough know-how was attainable as a result of Bradford & Bigelow, Manroland Goss, Baldwin’s AMS Spectral UV and Common Colour labored collectively as a staff to make sure its success,” Bradford and Bigelow CEO John Galligan commented. “And sure, the staff is delighted with the outcomes!”

Watch Printing Impressions’ interview with John Galligan concerning the set up and partnership right here.

Go to baldwintech.com to be taught extra.