PRINT MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES
Technology Centre - Rotogravure

“My name is Baqer. I come from Kurdistan, north of Iraq. My family runs a printing business – one of the reasons that made me study Print Media Technologies. 

I have chosen Germany and specifically the Hochschule der Medien because it is one of the few universities that teaches Print Media Technologies in English and features a large technology centre with state of the art equipment. The program offers many great opportunities for students who are interested in graphic communication. 

At the moment the most fascinating technology I am working with is rotogravure. This technology provides a high print quality standard which is required for décor and packaging printing. The university features a rather large Bobst Rotomec MW 60 web press. We also have the technological environment to engrave gravure cylinders on site. This is unique for an educational university.

Studying in Germany is worth every minute and above all good fun. The university offers many interesting projects which involve the industry. We go on many excursions and have the opportunity to learn from the industry as well.”

No teasing – please!

“I am Ching Ya, I come from Taiwan. After my one-year volunteer service in Germany, I chose to study print media technologies so that I can learn more about the print media industry whilst being able to study in an international environment.”

Rotogravure is used for large volume printing applications. It is used in pack-aging and décor printing, anything which needs a continuous design. A typical application is packaging of gummy bears. Apart from that, every big name catalogue, many famous newspapers and high quality packages are produced in gravure printing.

Large copper plated steel cylinders are engraved with a given design. The cylinder is partially immersed in the ink tray, filling the recessed cells.

As the cylinder rotates, it draws excess ink onto its surface and into the cells. Next, the substrate gets sandwiched between the impression roller and the gravure cylinder: this is where the ink gets transferred from the recessed cells to the web.

Our rotogravure machine is the Rotomec MW 60 from Bobst, Enulec and BST eltromat. At our university, we prepare the printing cylinders with diamond and laser engraving.

The Equipement

BOBST MW 60s

Bobst Rotomec MW 60S: BOBST MW 60 gravure printing machine This intaglio printing machine with the minimum waste of MW (Minimized Waste) not only increases profitability, but also reduces environmental impact. Justified by its name, the MW 60 minimizes the intaglio range of intaglio waste in all its various applications thanks to its innovative design and automation. Currently under use BOBST MW 60 machine at Hochschule der Medien has speed of 300m/min and print width is 600 mm.

HelioKlischograph K500: With up to 24 kHz, the HelioKlischograph K500 is not only the most successful, but also the fastest engraving machine of all time. Since its development, the K500 has set standards as a pioneer in its class right from the start. The 12 kHz high-performance HelioSprint III engraving system, Twain multi-head engraving and the linear drive guarantee by far the fastest production of cylinders in the industry. Equipped with all the top features of HD Gravure, the K500 achieves extremely high-quality engraving results.

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