The firm has saved a number of worldwide launches for the show, including the new Suprasetter external drum thermal platesetter which uses a new modular laser technology "completely developed and owned by Heidelberg".

The Suprasetter will be available in 4- and 8-up formats and in manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic versions.

Although further details will not be released until a press conference later today (Wednesday), it's understood the new laser technology will also be used in the latest version of the Speedmaster 74 DI, which currently uses Creo heads.

Heidelberg will also unveil its next-generation Speedmaster, the XL 105, at the show. This does not supersede the existing 102 model, but is instead described as  "the first press in an entirely new peak performance class" aimed at "highly industrialised" high-volume printers. It has a sheet size of 74x105cm and, like KBA's Rapida 105, can print at up to 18,000sph.

According to industry sources long perfecting versions of the XL 105 will not ship for some time, so the 102 will still be sold into this sector, and a double-sided coating option for the long perfecting option SM 102s was also unveiled, along with a perfecting option for the CD 74.

Check printweek.com for more details.

Story  by Jo Francis at Drupa