New developments at the drupa trade show Inline systems for digital printing and print finishing by Nagel

Ernst Nagel GmbH has spent the past months getting ready for one of the year’s key events: the drupa trade show in Düsseldorf. In addition to showcasing some new developments, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer of print finishing equipment will present its entire product portfolio in the areas of bookletmaking, stapling, collating, drilling, die-cutting, creasing and folding, and refinement with UV varnish and film at stand A83, in hall 8b of the Düsseldorf exhibition centre.

In developing new products for the drupa trade show, Nagel focused on the special requirements of digital printers. “Our objective is to offer powerful yet moderately priced print converting and finishing technology to print shops that are looking to invest in a printing system”, explains Johannes Ersing, Commercial Director of Ernst Nagel GmbH.

The greatest challenges faced by digital printers today are flexibility, quality, speed and customized services. These requirements apply in equal measure to print finishing solutions. Nagel has risen to the occasion with the development of PT-Flex, a new paper transport system that connects a digital press to print finishing equipment. This new system automatically transports single sheets or thin booklets from one machine to another, allowing for a difference in height of up to one meter for single sheets (depending on the grammage) and approx. 50 cm for thin booklets – all without cumbersome top belts. Belt segments ensure a gentle transport of print products of up to 400 mm width at variable speeds. The PT-Flex consists of a total of three segments; an infeed segment, an output segment and a connecting segment whose inclination can be adjusted between 30° and 90°. The segments can be used individually or combined as needed. The PT-Flex minimises staff deployment and is a convenient solution for paper transport especially in digital printing applications.

At drupa 2012, Nagel will also introduce the ST Stacker, a new solution for the stacking and transport of print sheets, booklets, books or other print products. The ‘collecting basket’ of the stacker is now sturdier than ever: designed especially for heavy products like photo books, the basket is equipped with casters that allow for an easy transport between different machines. Used as a carriage with adjustable height, the basket thus ensures a more ergonomic processing of the photo books.

The new DigiUVL 380 UV coater that was first introduced by Nagel at the 2011 Druck+Form trade show will be equipped with a new automatic cleaning system in time for drupa 2012. User convenience has also been improved with the addition of a touch screen control panel. The powerful ozone-free UV lamp, additional heating systems and an ergonomic and compact design make the DigiUVL 380 a valuable partner for the full-surface UV-coating of your digital and offset print products.

Nagel's new laminating unit will also be improved in terms of user convenience and safety, and equipped with a new, pivoting display. The first prototype of the DigiLam was introduced at Druck+Form in Sinsheim; since then, Nagel has worked continuously to improve the unit.

The Nagel bookletmakers will be enhanced with new and improved features for the drupa trade show. The mechanical drive of the lateral paper jogger in the Foldnak Compact has been replaced by a drive with a lifting magnet. This new drive lets users better adjust the movement and number of jogs to the various paper grades used in digital and offset printing, and ensures an optimal alignment.

The 2S Trimmer (2-side trimmer) can be integrated in the Foldnak 100 production line to trim stapled booklets on all 3 sides. The 2S trimmer ensures an accurate top and bottom trim of booklets of up to 25 sheets. The trimmer trims the front edge, turning out an accurately trimmed booklet that is automatically collated, stapled, folded, trimmed and square-pressed with the SP100 module.

The Foldnak 100 bookletmaker will present the following new features at the drupa:
 The stapling head adjustment mechanism has been modified for an easier adjustment to a new format.
 A new paper stop system brings booklets into an angled position after stapling, ensuring that long and narrow booklets especially are accurately positioned for folding.
 An additional sensor for automatic sheet length detection ensures that the fold is placed exactly at the centre of the sheet. The detection system also compensates for inaccurate cutting in the previous step.
 An optional reject tray for the Foldnak 100 bookletmaking line helps avoid interruptions of production: faulty sets are automatically rejected, and the machine continues working with the next correct set.
 The Foldnak 100 line will be equipped with a new and bigger control panel incl. new symbols and improved user guidance.

“Nagel has listened to the requirements of the digital printing industry, among them a wide range of formats, different paper grades and surface finishing methods, and short runs. Consequently, we are focusing on modifying equipment to ensure excellent user guidance, simple convertibility and high availability”, explains Günter Hiedels, Technical Director at Nagel. “We will also expand our surface finishing options with new equipment for UV coating and for laminating. Highly flexible auxiliary equipment, such as paper transporters, lets users design inline solutions that include upstream digital printing units", continues Hiedels.

“For us, the drupa trade show is a great opportunity to identify new trends in talks with customers and partners, and to gear our development efforts toward these requirements“, adds Johannes Ersing.

Ernst Nagel GmbH will be at the drupa trade show in Düsseldorf from May 3-16, 2012, hall 8b, stand A83.    
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