The Komori Lithrone A37 made its debut at Drupa 2012. Since then, the manufacturer has showcased the press at the Komori Graphic Centre.

In India, Komori has installed one Lithrone A37 at Options Printofast in Ghaziabad.

Sangam Khanna, director, Insight Communication & Print Solutions, the Indian distributor, which is spearheading the Komori movement, says, “A large number of offset printers’ work used to be hampered because of the availability of varying sizes of the printable sheets. Komori Lithrone A37 can print up to a sheet-size of 25x37inch for most applications including books, semi-commercial, packaging and commercial printing jobs.” The press can be fitted with the latest H-UV technology. 

“We see the Lithrone A37 as a stand-out product for companies who wish to offer their customers something different because of its size,” says Khanna. Komori has reported a sale of over 44 machines of LA37 in China since its launch. India lags behind, but Khanna expects the numbers to firm up soon. He says, “India generally follows trends in China.”

 

Khanna says the printing press with its superior colour management can be rendered through a CMS colour bar on sheets even with the 8-up A4 and letter-size impositions. He feels, the Lithrone A37 is the right type of machine for producing high page-count products with high print quality. This is the reason, he feels, the new-age Indian customer is eyeing it. The USP of the printing press in addition to its ability to cater to more than 90% of the paper sizes used in India – is the double diameter impression and transfer, low capital cost in comparison to a press with a sheet-size of 40-inch. Plus, there is the option of value-added printing like H-UV. Komori also boasts of delivering lower cost of production in comparison to other machines in the same size league. Khanna says this is because the press consumes lesser power and has smaller plate size, which is a recurrent expenditure. “In addition, the machine is alcohol-free, certified green machine, digitally ready press with optional KHS-AI cost saver features.” 

The press in the new Lithrone series is geared to the A1 market and during the demonstrations at Drupa, it was easy to be dazzled by all the new features. But there’s a lot more to the press. What is crucial to it’s success is, printers will still be able to print “the normal bread-and-butter jobs”. As Khanna points out, “the Lithrone A37 is an offset press that is designed to deliver exquisite quality to compete with comparable press technologies on everyday applications.” 

According to Khanna, the Komori LA37 – like it’s ancestors in the Lithrone family – is very simple to use, plus the operators can adapt to it. He points out, “We do not need a NASA scientist to run the machine at optimum levels. It’s a layman’s kit.” 

“Whether an operator has a digital press or a pre-press background, Komori’s team of engineers offer assistance to the operator in grasping everything he or she needs to know about manipulating colours, substrates, cylinders, blankets and formats,” he adds. 

The offset press is capable of printing on a wide range of substrates from paper, board, foil board and plastic which are available in India. And more substrates means many more applications and solutions. Which means additional profits can be generated.

Cost is a four-letter word. Khanna agrees when he says, “This is so true when one looks at the ever-reducing margin in the marketplace. In such a scenario, the Lithrone A37 offset press can unfree new business opportunities, that includes markets for value-added printing, advertising materials and books.”

Ever since its launch in 1981, the Lithrone Series has earned a reputation around the world as a sheetfed offset kit that adheres to the best of standards. The development and worldwide launch of the A1 Lithrone A37 marks a new addition to the Lithrone Series lineup. The Lithrone A37 is the highpoint to the technologies of the Lithrone Series, Komori’s base machines. The press can print sheets up to 640x940mm and this makes it the second sheetfed offset printing press with this capability.

Khanna says that a printer must buy the printing press because of low cost of production in comparison to all the machines in the large segment. He says, the ace in the A37 is the H-UV, a Komori Hyper UV printing equipment which can be fitted on the Lithrone A37 at the time of ordering. The H-UV was introduced two years ago. Khanna points out, “It involves a new low cost of UV production saving almost 75% of the production cost in comparison to conventional UV and fewer lamps than conventional UV.”

 

Manish Jain, owner, Options Printofast, says, “I am very happy with the quick turnaround time. The main thing is, we are saving on plates and consumables. Earlier, this was an expense. Outsourcing to other companies was painful and I am surprised with the time that I have been able to save with every passing month.”

He adds, “While I was struggling to attain quality, during the days when I was outsourcing the jobs, today, I’ve time to take additional jobs from the market at competitive rates.” Jain says the A37 has evoked a terrific response from customers and the Ghaziabad-based firm is eyeing a second Lithrone “soon”.

He adds, “We do commercial and semi-commercial jobs on this. We opted for the kit because of our earlier experience with Komori technology, double diameter transfer and impression cylinder technologies, a unique size of 25x37-inch with service from Insight Communication.”

 

Khanna says, “The A37 has print speeds which ensures quick production, reduces labour and machine hour costs.”

Insight Communication has been appointed as the pan-India distributor of Komori offset printing presses and the appointment will be effective from 1 January, 2013. 

Khanna continues, “Komori Lithrone A37 will be ideal for Indian printers especially for size specifications, green printing and value for money. The press will allow them to reduce cost and production times.”