One-pass productivity has come into focus at Kern with the installation of the Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 6C. Since then, finishing steps such as die-cutting, perforating and creasing can be carried out in-line in the printing unit using die-cutting plates or Cito systems during the printing process. With the SM 102 6C, finishing effects such as spot varnish are also possible in large format for the first time—previously only achievable on the smaller-format Speedmaster SM 52 5C+LX.
In print finishing, a new Heidelberg ST 400 saddle stitcher replaces the previous Müller Martini system. It produces saddle-stitched brochures at 14,000 cycles per hour in formats ranging from DIN A6 to A3, including multiple-up production (two- or three-up). The saddle stitcher is complemented by the fully automated Palamides delta 703 delivery system.
Mailing production is upgraded with a Buhrs BB700 multi-inserting system, which inserts up to 14,000 mailings per hour with a total product thickness of up to 15 mm in formats from C6 to B4. A key feature is intelligent inserting: personalised addresses are read by camera and automatically matched with the database. This enables selective job processing and the inserting of different, including personalised, enclosures. It also ensures that all mail items are reliably dispatched.