Heidelberg Suprasetter 52: Pros and Cons?

[adexec]

Hi all,

Our company is looking at some CTP machines (time to get rid of the film and the chemistry) and our primary focus is on the Heidelberg Suprasetter 52. We like that it's thermal, we like that it's backed by Heidelberg's support (we're currently running a Heidelberg Quasar using Delta and Signa), we're not really crazy about Heidelberg's plates requiring a gum-machine, but they say other manufacturer's plates will work through the Supra' as well (that don't need the gumming).

Does anyone have any rave reviews, horror stories or general satisfaction with the device? I'm looking for the real 'straight skinny,' to help make the best possible decision as we move into CTP.

(ps - our plan would be to get the machine ONLY, running it with Delta's 1 bit tif, and bring the Prinect software that's sold with the machine in late)

[Fatboysmart]

Hi there,

We have recently bought a Suprasetter 52 and use it with Kodak Thermal Direct plates. Rock solid machine... no problems so far. The Thermal Direct is great. no more chemicals, gum or whatever. Straight from the Suprasetter to our press (Speedmaster 52). Once it has developed on the press (20 sheets or so) it behaves just like any conventional plate. And so far we haven't had any problems with the plates polluting the water in the press.

The only drawback I can think of is the speed... 14 plates an hour on conventional plates, only 7 or so with the Thermal Direct. But if you are a small printing company like us with only 1 or 2 presses to feed this isn't a problem at all.

In short... we love it!

Good luck!

[Fatboysmart]

I forgot about the RIP.

We have the MetaDimension RIP (in the prepress room) and a MetaShooter (a second PC) next to the SupraSetter. The MetaShooter just buffers the 1-bit tiff images it gets from the RIP and our press guy (printer?) just points and clicks on the plate he wants to image... simple.

What I'm trying to say is, that since this MetaShooter uses 1-bit tiffs also (I actually think it's called Tiff-B), this should work fine with your existing RIP.

I'll shut up now

[MarkTonk]

Originally Posted by Fatboysmart

The only drawback I can think of is the speed... 14 plates an hour on conventional plates, only 7 or so with the Thermal Direct. But if you are a small printing company like us with only 1 or 2 presses to feed this isn't a problem at all.

In short... we love it!

Good luck!

Fatboysmart,

Thanks for the post on the Suprasetter.

With the Saphira Chemfree plate, we can image 11 SM 52 plates per hour.

On Thermal Direct, how much time between imaging and printing do you typically have? How do you store the imaged plates until they are ready to print? Thanks again for the post.


adexec,

No problem driving the Suprasetter from Delta with a 1-bit tiff, alls we need is a MetaShooter. This will catch the 1-bit tiffs from Delta via hot folders to image on the Suprasetter. The MetaShooter also will provide the GUI for the Suprasetter. Its quite a simple interface and allows you to see what the status is of imaging and as Fatboysmart stated, allows for very easy plate remakes. It also provides status such as when you need to empty the punch chads, basic maintenance such as filter changes, etc. Our Service Department or Application Specialist can easily remote access it if needed.


Regards,

Mark

[Fatboysmart]

Originally Posted by MarkTonk

Fatboysmart,

Thanks for the post on the Suprasetter.

With the Saphira Chemfree plate, we can image 11 SM 52 plates per hour.

On Thermal Direct, how much time between imaging and printing do you typically have? How do you store the imaged plates until they are ready to print? Thanks again for the post.

Hello Mark,

The Kodak Thermal Direct plates can be left in white light for 1 to 2 hours, and in yellow light (or any other colour that is less bright) for up to 4 hours.
But if you put them in a drawer or cover them up so they are not in direct contact with light, they last 2 to 3 days easy.

We tested this a few weeks ago... imaged a plate Friday morning and stored it in a dark place. On Monday morning we used the plate on press without any problems.

I don't know the Saphira plate... is this also completely process free, or do you have to bake or clean them after exposure?

[adexec]

Thanks both for your valuable input! We are a smaller shop (2 Heidelbergs) so the speed of the machine is not a concern for us now. I really like the accomodation of the Supra to our present Delta setup.

Mark - If I understand the plate material situation correctly, Heidelberg produces their own line of plates for use in the Supra's, but these require the additional gumming unit. Does Heidelberg not make (or have plans to make) a plate similar to the Fuji plate or the Kodak that Fatboysmart writes about, that goes directly on the press right out of the Supra?

Also - how often do filter changes occur on average? I assume it's removing particulate matter of some kind, but from the plate? What exactly does the filter do?

Sorry if these are nit-picky questions - I'm trying to study this device from every possible angle!

[prepress_vee]

I wouldn't dream of "processing or cleaning out" on press.
Why - when you can just gum it and be done.
One less variable on press.... ya know.

[Fatboysmart]

Originally Posted by adexec

Also - how often do filter changes occur on average? I assume it's removing particulate matter of some kind, but from the plate? What exactly does the filter do?

There are three things on the Suprasetter that you have to maintain yourself:

1> Punch waste tray (empy every 2000 punches or so)
2> Clean the rubber pickup roll (once every 2 or 3 months I guess, just wash it with water, let it dry and put it back in)
3> Replace Debris filter in the machine.

The debris filter looks like the air filter in your car, and has te be replaced every now and then. In the MetaShooter you can track when maintenance is due. We have been using the machine for 2 months now, and the indication for replacing the filter has only dropped 10% or so.

[Fatboysmart]

Originally Posted by prepress_vee

I wouldn't dream of "processing or cleaning out" on press.
Why - when you can just gum it and be done.
One less variable on press.... ya know.

Well... what do you think happens with the gum on the plate when you start printing?

[prepress_vee]

I'd rather that gum go free, than the emulsion/coating from the plate run through the press. We gum, save and re-run all the time. It's not a new variable IMO.

I'm not saying it's wrong - many shops are doing it. But I wouldn't.