German media service provider Variograph is to install a 16-page manroland Rotoman heatset press at its Elsterwerda, Brandenburg, print centre.
Boasting more than 100 years of tradition, the company moved into web-offset in 1974 and produces everything from inserts and brochures for the advertising industry to high quality catalogues and magazines on a stable of web-offset presses.
Managing director Wolfgang Stier says their ability to continuously expand market presence led to a decision to "open up a new chapter" in the company's development. "We are going to position ourselves optimally in the extremely competitive printing market with a highly automated and extremely flexible production system," he says.
Son Christian Stier says short make ready times and "the lowest levels of waste possible" will increase profitability in the short runs sector, while production speeds of 65,000 rph offer the best conditions for long runs.
The five-unit press will have manroland's DynaChange system for fully automated version and signature changes, and provide for finishing processes such as coating and special colours. Inline control systems will cover cut-off, ink register and density control.
Due to be installed in a new production building in September, the Rotoman Direct Drive for Variograph will be the fifth 16-page press to leave the manroland plant in Augsburg in the last 18 months.
Pictured at DRUPA 2016 (from left): Josef Aumiller (manroland sales vice president), Wolfgang Stier, Christian Stier, Sixten Zapf (manroland regional sales manager) and Peter Knauer (manroland head of development and technology)