Heidelberg says its XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press is more cost-effective than 4-up e-ink-based systems, like the HP Indigo 10000, for printing runs as low as 250 29"x23" sheets, according to calculations using PIA software

Aimee Bellah

KENNESAW, Georgia , January 28, 2014 (press release) – Using software from Printing Industries of America (PIA) and its own data, Heidelberg has verified that its XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press is less expensive than a 4-up e-ink-based system for runs as low as 250 29"x23" sheets.

PIA, the industry's largest trade association, recently released its PrintAS Cost Calculator to member firms. The PrintAS tool is designed specifically to determine the cost for any job, based on digital and offset production processes. Users input all of the factors they believe will impact the cost structure of a specific job, i.e., fixed costs of maintenance, financing, makeready and plates, as well as variable costs of staffing, paper, ink and click charges. The calculator then determines the precise cost crossover point among different configurations.

Do the Math

Results unambiguously confirm Heidelberg's Anicolor inking technology as the optimal solution for the cost-efficient production of short- and very short runs in 29" format for commercial, label, package printing and POP applications.

"This software confirms the viability of our Anicolor technology, and firmly establishes the XL 75 Anicolor as the cost leader starting as low as 250 sheets for straight printing and 290-350 sheets for perfecting," said Joerg Daehnhardt, director of product management for Heidelberg. "Confirming the crossover point to Anicolor offset at just 250 sheets is huge news for the industry - and a far cry from other vendor-supplied calculations that claim a crossover at several thousand sheets. That's why we call it 'Digital Offset 2.0'. Get ready to be surprised as you do your own calculations." The PrintAS calculator doesn't even take into consideration all the other advantages of Heidelberg's digital offset press. For example, the residual value of the XL 75 Anicolor after five years of use is considerably higher than 4-up, e-ink-based systems like the HP Indigo 10000, such that after achieving lower production costs, users also will be able to collect even more money as they re-invest.

Anticipate A Revelation

PIA member firms may satisfy their curiosity by downloading the PrintAS Cost Calculator at www.printing.org/free, and by plugging in data specific to their operation. For an equally eye-opening experience, Heidelberg offers a variety of input data in Excel spreadsheet form at http://sso.us.heidelberg.com/Anicolor/CostCalculator.pdf. These data may be plugged into the PIA PrintAS calculator to demonstrate why Heidelberg's XL 75 Anicolor press is the ideal solution for printing service providers looking to grow their business in the 29" short-run segment. Take a look and tell us what you think!

Advantage: Anicolor

The XL 75 Anicolor provides a number of key advantages over 29" digital production devices. With superior substrate flexibility (ranging from onion skin to 32 pt. board), significantly higher production speed (15,000 sheets per hour, equal to 90,000 8.5x11 sheets per hour), and incredibly short makereadies, the XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press opens the door to a huge variety of value-added applications with substantial profit potential. Cost-conscious print service providers can tap those added profits without the click charges commonly incurred during the lease of digital printing equipment. Compatibility with standard consumables means that the savings per sheet can be as significant as 90 percent, compared with 29" e-ink based devices such as the HP Indigo 10000 digital press.

Heidelberg also has created its own cost-to-print model, including an analysis of run length break-even and cost per job comparison, customizable to your business. Additional information can be found in a new technology review report that explains the benefits of the game-changing Anicolor inking technology. To preview and download the report, "Discover Digital Offset 2.0," or to download Heidelberg's Anicolor cost-to-print calculator, please visit http://sso.us.heidelberg.com/Anicolor/CostCalculator.pdf. To learn more about Digital Offset 2.0 and Anicolor technology, contact your Heidelberg account representative or visit www.us.heidelberg.com. 

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