The Boardmaster had its worldwide debut at the Interpack show in Dusseldorf, where Heidelberg revealed details of the new press.
The manufacturer said that it could “dramatically cut the total cost of ownership” for firms producing large volumes of folding cartons, with the promise of 90% uptime and a print speed of up to 600m/min – which equates to 38,000 148cm-wide sheets per hour.
An optional speed boost to 800m/min results in the equivalent of 48,000sph.
The Boardmaster has been developed “completely from scratch” at the Weiden flexo facility in Bavaria that Heidelberg acquired with Gallus in 2014, and its specification and features involved input from global packaging customers.
Heidelberg also pointed to the sustainability benefits of the growing market for folded cartons.
The Boardmaster uses water-based inks, and energy efficiency was described as “far higher” than offset printing due to the extra productivity. The warm air that is generated is recovered, and makeready waste is put at less than ten metres per job change.
The reel-fed press handles materials from 70-800gsm, with two print decks per unit allowing one deck to print while the other is made ready for the next job.
The press can also print on the reverse of the web by changing the web path.
Heidelberg claimed it was “the first flexo printing press with zero downtime” thanks to flying job changes and its Push to Stop know-how.
Heidelberg CEO Dr Ludwin Monz commented: “With the world premiere of our Heidelberg Boardmaster, we are responding to key customer challenges in the packaging market – cost pressure, the skills shortage, and the need to optimise productivity and sustainability.”
The Boardmaster can be configured to run reel-to-reel, reel-to-sheeter, or reel-to-cutter. Optional inline processes include laminating, cold foiling, digital imprinting, rotary embossing and screen printing.
The available print widths are 85cm, 102cm, 140cm and 165cm.
A Heidelberg spokesperson told Printweek that installations were already underway, and the press did not require a beta testing programme.
“We have multiple orders already on hand. One machine is already installed and in the start-up process on customer’s site, the second is going to be shipped.”
Pricing will depend on configuration.
“A Heidelberg Boardmaster is scalable depending on the application and the customer's use; the concept allows equipment exactly according to the customer’s wishes as a great advantage. As a result, prices are strictly dependent on the configuration. The range is roughly between a low single-digit to a double-digit million euro amount,” the spokesperson explained.
