Special vans were outfitted, each containing a Heidelberg. New dramatic techniques were used to regain lost markets. Production of all presses was resumed in 1949 after being curtailed during World War II. Soon the speed of the platen press was raised to 5,000 (10,000 using the double feeder attachment) i.p.h. Three years later the company began making cylinder presses.
![heidelberg windmill number press heidelberg windmill number press](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2020/schneider10367/images/294f8b28-e666-47b0-88c5-ab6b01526b99.jpg)
In 1933 the 13x18” Heidelberg press, with impressional strength of 60 tons, was introduced. Speed of the press art the time was in excess of 3,000 i.p.h. This same year an assembly line was instituted to step up production of the press. The toggle action for control of the platen movement was not featured on the press until 1924. The press made its debut in 1913.Įarly Heidelberg presses had a revolving ink disk system, but in 1919 it was discarded in favor of the presently used cylindric inking system. Speed, precise register and the windmill gripper were incorporated into this ingenious mechanism. In 1912 work and testing began on the Heidelberg Original press. Shortly before the turn of the century he began concentrating on the designing of high-speed Letterpress machines. The Heidelberg got its start over 130 years ago when German master machinist Andreas Hamm established a factory in the university town of Heidelberg in Baden-Wurttemberg in 1850 to build presses, folding machines and gas engines. The press, regarded by pressmen as “The Prince of Presses,” is made in West Germany by Schnellpressenfabrik AG Heidelberg (Heibelberg Rapid Press Works, Inc.) & now is made in 10.1/4x15” and 13 3/8x18 1/8” sizes. After platen opens the windmill revolves another quarter-turn, delivering printed sheet. While the grippers still hold the sheet, the press closes, making the impression. Vacuum suckers lift unprinted sheets from the pile holding them until seized by grippers in either end of the windmill blade, which revolves, carrying the sheet to the edge of the platen. This double blade, with grippers on both ends, moves in quarter turns from feeding, to print, to delivery positions. Some models can print on leather, cloth & plastic.ĭesigned and built by German craftsmen, the Heidelberg press features heavy-duty construction with massive base and platen of specially cast alloy and shaft of stell, toggle lever drive with impression control, push-and-pull mechanism for feeding very thin paper, perfect register at all speed variations, cylinder inking system and rollers running in precision ball bearings.īut the most radical feature of the Original Heidelberg press is its sweeping windmill feeder. They can print on a wide range of paper stocks from onion paper to carton. Still the most versatile presses on the market they can print, imprint, number, perforate, punch, slit, emboss, die-cut, score and hot foil stamp.
![heidelberg windmill number press heidelberg windmill number press](https://www.gabsupplies.co.uk/sites/default/files/machines-items/img/Heidelberg%20Platen%20for%20sale%20Heidelberg%20Windmill%20Gab%20Supplies%20Ltd%201964%20(2).jpg)
Even in this “offset age,” the Heidelberg platen presses prove their worth-day in, day out.