Answers from Anton Hamm, MAN Roland, to questions from IfraExpo Gazette

newspaper techniques: What are your expectations of IfraExpo in Leipzig?

Anton Hamm: We hope to see many committed decision-makers as visitors, as we know and value them from IfraExpo. We expect intensive discussions and technical conversations as well as a lively interest in new investments. We also expect that our innovations, especially our Colorman in the new 4/1 concept, will attract high levels of attention and interest.

nt: What do you think are the three main international trends in newspaper printing?

Anton Hamm: I would cite lowering costs, selected commercials, and formats as the three most important international trends. Practically all customers see the need to lower costs, something that must be achieved by appropriate automation and improved quality. We at MAN are contributing to this with, among other things, the new 4/1 concept, our printnet system and life cycle management concept. Another possibility to lower costs is to optimally utilise press capacities. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important and interesting for customers to be able to use a newspaper press also to print selected commercials. The third trend, the tendency towards smaller, more compact formats, is at present the one that is the most visible and that many newspapers have followed or shall do in the near future.

nt: Will you present or announce new products, concepts or other news at the IfraExpo?

A. Hamm: At IfraExpo, as a world first, MAN Roland will present a Colorman press in the 4/1 concept in a satellite configuration. The Colorman 4/1 is designed for an output of 90,000 copies per hour and equipped with the automatic Power Plate Loading (PPL) system. MAN Roland will present the first users at the show.
Under the motto “Applied Innovations”, MAN Roland will present closed loop concepts for total automation in newspaper printing, covering functions such as no-mark cutting register, web tension, colour register and colour density controls.
Included in the “Applied Innovations” are also the new printcom program and printservices. Since drupa 2004, printservices have constituted the umbrella for the entire service range. This stands for all-round service, from the first contact through the entire added-value chain, up to new investment, with a wide scope of offerings such as consulting, financing and project management, though also training, maintenance, upgrades, as well as life cycle management. With the recently launched new printcom brand, which stands for printing competence, MAN Roland makes available a large part of its systems competence to its customers for process optimisation. With printcom, the selection, acquisition and application of the correct system components, such as printing blankets, sleeves, rollers and printing chemicals, become significantly more transparent, faster and safer, and the interaction with the printing system is optimised.

nt: In your opinion, how great is the market potential for semi-commercial presses? Are dedicated newspaper printing presses destined to become obsolete in the future?

A. Hamm: We are, in fact, registering a highly increased level of interest in selected commercial presses. We have this discussion with nearly all customers, whether they are regular customers who are considering investing in new or replacement equipment, or with new customers. Because, as stated before, lowering costs and increasing production efficiency are becoming more and more important, it is only natural that there should be a major need for solutions that guarantee an optimal utilisation of press capacities.

Page first published: 14.10.2005