It has been more than 30 years since Schneider Senator unveiled its 115MC, the first guillotine equipped with a microprocessor. Constant refinements to the original design were made in the years following the launch, culminating in the release of the S-Line range, in 1995, which included the 115H.
With the 115H, Schneider concentrated its efforts on building a guillotine that was fundamentally different. It achieved this with a direct-hydraulic drive, denoted by the ‘H'. As part of this redesign, the knife's pull-down rod was also attached to the knife carrier at the bottom, not the top, as was previously standard.
The 115H also includes a hydraulically controlled automated knife change at the front, while optional extras include a 50mm narrow clamp cover plate (instead of the standard 70mm), a retractable rear cover and lay edge-control, automatic paper ejection and a variable backgauge speed. Models with a CT control reduced by a third the number of keys needed to program a job.
High demand
According to Steve Nyland, managing director at secondhand dealer Nyland Graphics, the 115H is a solid performer on the secondhand market - it's up there with other products from Polar and Wohlenberg, he claims.
"We tend to find there are more machines from the likes of Polar on the secondhand market," says Nyland. "But we think the Schneider Senator 115H is an interesting machine and we always try to buy one. In the past six to eight years, there have been more of them available."
Stuart Bamford, national sales manager at UK agent Friedheim International, says this is because there were a lot more sold from 2005 to 2008. "It's also worth bearing in mind that unfortunately there are more companies going under due to the economic climate, hence more equipment up for auction," he says.
Later models tend to be hard to find unless a print firm closes, adds Nyland. "The later model machines are obviously more popular. The CT models are more recent, with a colour monitor touchscreen," he says.
Service history is paramount when it comes to secondhand machinery. "Always check the history of the product and its visual condition," says Nyland. "I would recommend that they check the machine with the Schneider dealer
or agent."
Friedheim sells new 115Hs and will take back older models as part-exchange on strict conditions. Schneider Senator also lists secondhand 115s available for sale on its website. Service contracts are offered through Friedheim International, while Nyland Graphics offers six-month warranty on used machinery with eight engineers for callouts.
A 2006 model will cost up to £25,000, while a new 115H will cost around £38,000 depending on specifications, optional extras, exchange rates and other variables.
Specifications
Cutting width 1,150mm
Feed depth 1,150mm
Front table depth 680mm
Side table depth 471mm
Clamp pressure max 4,500daN
Knife thickness 12mm
Smallest cut 35mm (automatic) 25mm (manual)
Footprint 2,020x2,263mm
Weight 2,750kg
Price
New: £38,000
Used: £25,000
What to look for
Condition of machine
Service history
