Prinect
Axis Control
Powerful color measurement for effective quality assurance • Its high
degree of automation rapidly make Prinect® Axis Control® an indispensable
helper for the printing press in every print shop. Commercial printers espe-
cially like the flatness of the print sheet on the vacuum plate. Packaging
printers appreciate that micro print control strips help to reduce the amount
of expensive carton used in packaging. The simultaneous adjustment of all
ink zones results in a significantly faster makeready for long perfectors.
Prinect Axis Control is available for all Speedmaster® presses equipped with
Prinect Press Center® and can be used in straight and perfecting mode.
Fast and reliable coordination of the print job • Based on the spectro-
photometric information from the stored color values and printing stock
and the measurements from the print control strip, Prinect Axis Control
calculates the color deviations in the individual ink zones. These deviations
between the predefined target value and the actual value are used for cal-
culating the necessary corrective adjustments for up to ten printing units
in straight and perfecting mode. Due to the very high measuring speed of
200 millimeters per second, this measurement takes only a short time.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Kurfuersten-Anlage 52–60
69115 Heidelberg • Germany
Phone +49 6221 92-00
Fax +49 6221 92-6999
www.heidelberg.com
Trademarks
00.993.3767/03 en
Printed in Germany
Heidelberg, the Heidelberg logotype, Prinect, Axis Control, and Speedmaster
are registered trademarks of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in the U.S.
and other countries. Prinect Press Center is a trademark of Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG in the U.S. and other countries. PANTONE is a
registered trademark of Pantone Inc. Other names referred to here are
trademarks of their respective owners.
Subject to technical modifications and other changes.
Fast and reliable measurement in the print control strip.
Reliable measurement for every grammage Automatic recognition of the print control strip
Regardless of the grammage, the suction is applied The Auto Tracking function detects and recognizes
evenly over the entire sheet surface. This stops the the position and type of the print control strip within
sheet slipping during the measuring process, even for a 40 mm (1.58 in) corridor. The search area is deter-
grammages above 250 gsm. mined in advance using the touchscreen of the Prinect
Press Center. This eliminates the need for manual
Variable positioning of the print control strip positioning of the measuring head, thereby saving a
Since Prinect Axis Control moves in two dimensions – considerable time. If the printed sheet to be measured
the measuring bar moves horizontally and the mea- is lying at an angle on the measuring table, this is
suring head vertically – the control strip can be posi- compensated for automatically and measured compen-
tioned anywhere on the print sheet. The variable sated for by the sheet position recognition and tracking
positioning from the leading edge right up to the trailing systems.
edge offers the best conditions for maximum utilization
of the print sheet. What‘s more, the high resolution of Comprehensive reporting • Prinect Axis Control
Prinect Axis Control supports the use of innovative records all quality parameters, measuring results, and
Prinect micro print control strips. These control strips the number of measurements in a print job. The data
are made up of extremely small measurement fields can be analyzed using various job-related parameters
for even more space-saving utilization on the sheet. by Prinect Pressroom Manager, the Prinect workflow‘s
information and control center. Its detailed reports are
suitable both as a basis for internal analyses and for
providing customers with comprehensive proof of print
quality.
2
Permanent process control • Prinect Axis Control
also supplies L*a*b* and tone values to the Prinect
Color Toolbox. After analysis and, if necessary, correc-
tion, they are transferred to the CtP system where the
dots are adapted on the plate, so that tone values
and image quality are kept as stable during printing
as the ink application. This leads to considerably fast-
er makeready and more consistent print quality.
Key functions and benefits at a glance:
• Spectrophotometric color measurement and online
color control of ink zones for up to eight printing
units in straight or perfecting mode
• Fast and reliable measurement in the print control
strip The touchscreen at the Prinect Press Center clearly shows even the
most minor deviations in process and spot colors.
• Less space required and more process information
thanks to micro print control strips
• High measuring speed of 200 mm/sec (7.87 in/sec)
• Variable positioning of the print control strip
• Optimum print sheet suction for precise color
measurement regardless of the grammage of the
print sheet
• Automatic location and recognition of the print
control strip
• Automatic sheet position recognition and tracking
• Simple operation via Prinect Press Center
• Integrated HKS and PANTONE® color databases
• Comprehensive quality reporting and process
control
• Possibility to display measurement values at the
Prinect Press Center Wallscreen
Technical Data
Availability Speedmaster SM 52, Speedmaster SM 74, Speedmaster XL 75,
Speedmaster SM 102, Speedmaster CD 102, Speedmaster CX 102,
Speedmaster XL 105, Speedmaster XL 145, Speedmaster XL 162
Max. no. of presses that can be connected 1
Measuring location Print control strip
Measuring speed 200 mm/sec (7.87 in/sec)
No. of controllable colors on each side of the sheet 8
Minimum size of measurement patch (W × H) in the print control strip 3.25 mm × 4 mm (0.13 × 0.16 in)
Register measurement –
Color management/Mini Spot workflow –
Display of measurement values on the Prinect Press Center Wallscreen Optional
Prinect Axis Control ensures standards-compliant measurement
(spectrophotometric, D50, 2°, 45°/0°)
3
Netprofiler – the software for independent
calibration
Netprofiler is the calibration software from Heidelberg
for spectrophotometric color measurement systems
such as Prinect Axis Control. It minimizes negative ef-
fects on color reproduction by correcting deviations in
color data and using calibrated color references to
adjust measured values to standardized target values.
Calibration can be performed independently at the
print shop without external service engineers.
Regular calibration of color values • Heidelberg is
the only manufacturer to offer print shops the possi-
bility of performing colorimetric calibration on their
color measurement systems. This is a big advantage Netprofiler ensures optimum adjustment of the color
measurement system at all times.
for true-color production because incorrect color
values are often the result of changes to color data
in measuring equipment that can occur after a certain
period of operation without recalibration. Netprofiler Three steps to the right result:
ensures that the settings of the color measurement 1 Checking the tolerance
systems always match the certified standard factory Prinect Axis Control checks its own measuring
settings and that the device is working with optimum accuracy using a reference color chart. The result
accuracy. This is the only way to prevent color devia- shows whether the measurement is within the
tions in production and operate several measuring required tolerances.
devices reliably at one company. 2 Calibration
After this check, Netprofiler automatically starts
Fast and systematic coordination • Netprofiler the calibration process, i. e. it corrects deviations
provides binding documentation of all measuring from target values.
results – a significant benefit for coordination with 3 Certification
customers and standardized printing within the If the print shop has an online connection to
narrow tolerances of ISO 12647-2. Heidelberg‘s Web Based Remote Service, a detailed
report is automatically prepared. A certificate
Netprofiler functions and benefits at a glance: confirms the device has been checked as specified
• Colorimetric calibration by the manufacturer.
• Optimum adjustment of color measurement systems
at all times
• Fewer complaints thanks to color fidelity
• Compliance with ISO 9000
• Identical colors across all sites
• Reliable, certified quality
