Manroland Sheetfed, one of three German producers of sheetfed offset litho printing presses, elected not to take a stand to show its machines at drupa 2024. The German press builder instead invited existing and potential customers to its Offenbach headquarters, just a short taxi ride across the river from Frankfurt. At the same time, the company is preparing for its 2024 ‘World Evolution Tour’ that aims to bring together print industry enthusiasts and highlight the latest technologies driving the sector towards greater excellence and sustainability worldwide.
At the drupa-time open-house events, the company hosted in-depth seminars, press demonstrations, and factory tours for international print professionals, making the most of their time in Germany. Mirko Kern, Manroland Sheetfed’s new CEO, welcomed delegates at their Print Technology Centre for one-day in-depth presentations, discussions, and demonstrations of the Roland 700 Evolution presses, in both perfecting, which is the preferred configuration for book printers these days, and packaging configurations with extensive coating and interdeck curing configurations. The Offenbach facility contains an impressive in-house foundry for the casting cylinders as well as its stabilization room where the finished cylinders, side-frames and partially assembled units are kept in uniform ambient conditions for a period of time.
Visitors were also given a comprehensive tour of the manufacturing facilities that produce these legendary sheetfed presses entirely in Offenbach, from foundry through machine shops to electro manufacturing and assembly.The drupa-[time] Open House is part of Manroland Sheetfed’s ‘World Evolution Tour.’ With regional events being held throughout the year, the tour is a unique opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in the world of print technology, where Manroland Sheetfed’s features take center stage. The tour is planned to encompass key industrial hubs: it moves across Europe, Asia, India, and the Americas. Each stop will provide an in-depth face to face exploration of the latest innovations in industry trends and print technology, offering participants a firsthand look at the evolution shaping the future of the industry and that can impact their print and converting business.
The company plans to host a Delhi edition of the tour to showcase its flagship Roland 700 Evolution press. The Indian open house is expected to host a customer training session to enhance machine learning, and to enable printers and operators to maintain and manage the presses on their own. Manroland Sheetfed has invested more than a decade in establishing the 700 Evolution press known for its precision, efficiency, and versatility – including several sales to Indian carton producers. The 700 series has always represented a pinnacle in printing technology for cartons and the Evolution with its automation features and enhancements built on that tradition. The company says the Evolution 700 redefines the standards of print quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
“China day” – one of the Open House days held by Manroland Sheetfed during drupa ’24According to Deepak Walia, managing director, Manroland Sheetfed India, the ‘World Evolution Tour’ began in China in November 2023 and covered many European countries. “The tour will conclude in India. We plan to keep it somewhere around the upcoming PrintPack India expo and will share details soon,” he said.
As the anticipation builds for the tour, (and its arrival in India) industry experts and print and packaging businesses can look forward to further details, including tour dates in our pages and platforms. This initiative promises to be a convergence of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and a shared vision for the future of print.
This article has been slightly enhanced on 30 June 2024 – editor. It has appeared in the print edition of the July issue of Indian Printer and Publisher including our Drupa Review Part 1, that was mailed out on 27 June 2024. The slightly enhanced version will be included in the July issue of Packaging South Asia that will include our drupa Review Part 2 for packaging and which is going to press on 1 July 2024.
