MANUFACTURING to imprint variable components such as consecutive lottery numbers , variable QR codes , and changing artwork at full production speed , are just one example .
This kind of technology is of greater practical use to manroland web systems customers than ‘ pure ’ digital printing systems being developed by inkjet printing firms . Inkjet printing is limited in speed , and so far can only manage three or four metres a second . The S30 head has a print width of 10.6cm and a printing speed of up to 900 metres per minute . That ’ s 15 metres per second ( m / s ), keeping up with manroland presses that get through a 3.5 tonne roll of paper in 12 minutes at up to 17 m / s . There ’ s a big gap for the digital printers to bridge the cost per copy delta , says Betzmeier , “ but they will probably do it one day !” Offset can reach higher speeds because it relies on ink transfer while digital methods rely on droplets being ‘ fired ’ at the paper – the higher the speed the greater the droplet disturbance . As a result , conventional offset fulfils the requirements for volume production , digital printing provides
“ All our innovations are directed towards cost saving and productivity gain for our customer – speed , uptime and production flexibility ”
– Dieter Betzmeier , Executive Vice President Technology & Projects
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