Pre-printed DIN A4-laser paper has become a major commodity in the printing and office paper market. The standard A4 format is ideal for industrial, in-line, non-stop production. For industrial laser sheet production, double stream and double web, is crucial for all runs over and above 50 000 A4. Since 1990, Automation GmbH has focused this efficient technique for successful participation in the strong A4 letterhead business.
 

1. ONE AND TWO COLOUR LASER PAPER is typical for larger runs. These jobs are finished in about half the time by TWIN WEB. This includes: Bleed printing, per/punch, counting, jogging, wrapping.
 

2. At 200 meters/minute (= 160.000 A4 per hour) THE GROSS OUTPUT of the AUTOMATION-Web is over one million sheets per shift. For a cautious efficiency calculation a net figure of 600.000 sheets per shift can safely be used. The average make-ready time is one hour as the standard value. This largely depends on the previous order, especially for the colours used. When there is only one web the turnout drops by 50%, down to only 300.000 A4 per shift.
 

2.1. In a one web 4-colour press TWO OFFSET UNITS ARE IDLE for the many current jobs of one and two colour laser sheets.
Four print units are running in twin web performance; 3- and 4-colour work runs single web. An offset unit is seldom idle.
 

2.2. Large laser paper orders can well be in the range of 5 TO 30 MILLION SHEETS and more. For logistic reasons, these quantities are mostly split into runs of several million and divided over the year. It does not help to compete against sheet fed printers with a single web machine; the output is nearly the same. The competetive edge and the profit come from 2-web production.
 

3. There are NUMEROUS ORDERS OF 1 AND 2 MILLION A4 laser sheets in the market. Nice jobs for dual web and good return. Single web does not give any advantage over the omni-present sheet fed printer, hungry for orders and always nearby.
 

4. It is sometimes questioned, if the MATCHING COLOUR VALUES are obtained on both webs. This is a strange question. Where would the printing industry be when matching colours cannot be produced and reproduced on one and more offset units, over and over again?
Automation OFFSET UNITS with 4+4 INKER GEOMETRY, are essential for consistent ink lay-down and repeatability, for house colours as well as for process colours. Such quality criteria are only a problem on web presses with insufficient ink distribution as often seen on variable size offset units.
 

5. RELIABLE SHEETING at 150 to 200 meters/minute is the key to the high average output, which makes this business interesting. This performance is based on reliable twin web production. Two sheets delivered twin web are typically 160 grams and delivered a lot saver by the sheeter than 1 x 80 grams. The risk of jams is much reduced, even when mill rolls are not perfect. The double layer of paper in the sheeter is of considerable advantage for a trouble-free laser sheet printing operation.
 

6. TWIN WEB users for laser sheets are often starting to engage both webs FROM 100.000 SHEETS ON. In particular, when colours remain the same the start-up time is marginal. With good production planning a lot of additional profit can be gained from operating two webs.
 

7. THE SUCCESS OF TWIN WEB production is also obtained by convincing adequate MARKETING AND PROMOTION of the advantages given by this in-line production method; the large cost advantage over sheet fed and the industrial capacity are the big points for DUAL WEB. The market is always attracted by professional supply, by good service and reliable delivery, given by modern technology.
 

8. Publication presses for high quality colour work, 8-, 16- or 32-pages, like MAN, Koebau or other first class machinery, are, equal to the Automation-Web built to the 4 + 4 formula (4 form rollers, 4 oscillators). The 4 + 4 geometry is not seen on variable size offset units, which are mostly 3 + 3 and twin web is seldom. For A4-laser sheets, fixed size, twin web offers the ideal conditions to participate in the healthy growth market. There is no sign at the horizon for a change away from the DIN range. 24" circumference with double-cut sheeter is the right size for many years to come, full image and bleed DIN A4 or 8 1/2 x 11, finished products in a one step operation. There was never an office paper more ideal for industrial in-line production.
 

- AUTOMATION-Web -, ONE PASS, ONE OPERATOR, FINISHED PRODUCTS and IMPECCABLE QUALITY.