Bachmann-Dambach Group buys world's first M-Press Leopard
German screenprinter Dambach Print and Service has bought the world’s first Agfa M-Press Leopard in a deal signed at Fespa Digital this week.
"With the M-Press Leopard we will optimise our current production portfolio, in particular to complete with our five-colour screen print line from Thieme," said Mr Bachmann, owner of the Dambach-Bachmann Group. "We see a huge potential to grow in our market because of the versatility and flexibility the M-Press Leopard will offer us. We are really exited that we can take this next leap now." ??
The M-Press Leopard has a maximum print size of 1.6m x 2.6m and a maximum print speed of 483m2/hour (283 m2/hour in photographic mode). It is targeted at those who want the speed and quality of offset litho and screenprinting but with the convenience of a wide-format inkjet platform. Designed on the same lines as the M-Press Tiger, this new machine is designed to target the mid-sized print service provider whose print output requirements sit in the bracket of 200,000 to 500,000m2/yr.
The printer is based on a manual loading and offloading concept, designed to accommodate changing job types and double-sided output which cannot be handled practically with a fully or partially automated system. The M-Press Leopard provides for accurate registration at sizes as small as A3 thanks to 29 lay-on pins which align the material precisely. There’s a vacuum bed for loading/offloading fast and foolproof, with accurate recto to verso (front-to-back) turning for double-sided prints. The vacuum bed includes 55 separate zones for optimum hold-down on different sizes of sheet. Lighter media is aligned using the front pins whilst, to maintain optimum stability, a series of rear lay pins is used to hold heavier substrates firmly in place. ??
Agfa’s shuttle design is incorporated into the M-Press Leopard and this utilises its established UPH 2 (Universal Print Head) technology that incorporates greyscale variable droplet technology. Its drop sizes range 10 - 26 picolitres.
An Apogee workflow is configured for true JDF connectivity, with variable data printing and versioning (Apogee Vibe) bringing customisation options.
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