The Sleek Shape of 40" Sheetfeds.

The article features an array of printing technologies and innovations presented at the Drupa 2004 exposition. When the curtain went up on Drupa 2004 in Düsseldorf, Germany, attendees began seeing the unveiling of the new 40" sheetfeds along with an array of updates and innovations, The major trends that manufacturers point to at this year's exposition include double-double-size impression cylinders, double-double-size transfer devices for contact-free sheet handling in perfectors, precision control of sheet feeding and delivery using suction-type belts, and the larger 41' format size. Press exhibitors at the event will be emphasizing compliance with the Print Production Format and Job Definition Format (JDF) as a standard industry workflow for their 40" sheetfed models. The universal JDF interface developed by the cIP4 consortium permits data exchange involving both management information and prepress systems, as well as job messaging. Akiyama is introducing a 40' press called the eXtreme 40 Series. The model is a completely news model from the ground up, will be available by year-end. The press is the four-color eXtreme 440 outfitted for aqueous and ultraviolet coating. Heidelberg is nonetheless debuting a new generation of its venerable 40' Speedmaster presses in SM 102 and CD 102 models. New for the SM 102 are new and improved cylinder jackets that enhance perfecting quality; they appear under the names PerfectJacket Plus and TransferJacket Plus, to be commercially available as of Drupa 2004.