Oosterhout, October 2019
- Automated colour
control on a waterless Koenig & Bauer (K&B) Cortina press seemed like
future music for the time being. But K&B and Q.I. Press Controls (QIPC),
together with Coldset Printing Partners, have started a project to integrate
the IDS-3D system for automatic colour control in the already highly
sophisticated press. During the K&B Cortina User Workshop on Wednesday 25
September, QIPC presented the revolutionary system and the first results at the
Coldset Printing Partners printing facility in Paal-Beringen, Belgium.
Even higher degree of automation
"Just like an airplane pilot wants his plane to
fly on autopilot as much as possible, we try to have our presses to print on
autopilot as much as possible as well. Pascal Coenen, Head of Technical Services
at Coldset Printing Partners discusses the justified question why someone would
like the K&B Cortina, a press that is already highly automated, to work
even more autonomously: "We want the level of automation to be as high as
possible".
The printer as supervisor
This high degree of automation entails a number of
advantages that are very important to Coldset Printing Partners. "The
increased consistency in the printed matter is worth a lot to us," says
Pascal Coenen. "Think, for example, of small colour differences in logos.
This is highly undesirable, but more difficult to ensure without automatic
colour control. In addition, we want to make the work of our printers as
pleasant as possible; we really see them as supervisors of the system."
Erwin van Rossem, Director of Global Sales & Marketing at QIPC, also notes
that the error rate at the KBA Cortina press is smaller, especially because it
is such a sophisticated machine. "The smallest changes in variables can
have an impact on the printed product. You want to measure such a process as
accurately as possible."
Adjusting, fine-tuning and adaption
During the K&B Cortina User Workshop, the system,
which is currently being further optimised, was presented. The optimisation and
integration project is progressing very well, says Pascal Coenen: "The
cooperation between the three parties is a real showcase. It is clear that
everyone is trying to bring this product onto the market in the best possible
way. From the start, the discussions went well, a completely new interface was
developed in a short period of time and the installation was completed within
two weeks. Now it’s a matter of adjustment, fine-tuning and adaption."
Potential is there
The system is expected to be fully operational by the
end of October or early November. "The attendees at our print facility have
already been able to see the potential of the system," concludes Pascal
Coenen. Erwin van Rossem adds: "I am confident that this development will trigger
the enthusiasm of other Cortina users and convince them that automatic colour
control does have an added value and maximizes the potential of the
machine".
