- Tornado Technology enables automated sheet feeding for the widest range of formats and weights in the commercial printing, print finishing, and packaging industries
- Worldwide launch of new SRA3+ feeder for light commercial print production and office applications
BDT Media Automation GmbH, a market leader in the development of flexible media management solutions for digital print, packaging and converting markets, was granted the fundamental US patent 9,079,733 for an innovative method to feed sheets utilizing the BDT Tornado technology. This truly unique and revolutionary technology is already in commercial products produced by BDT including the HP Indigo 10000 and 30000 feeders, the BDT-TPF family of deep pile feeders, and the BDT-WFL family of wide format loaders. At Graph Expo 2015 in Chicago, BDT will introduce its newest Tornado based product, the SIS-Series of feeders and stackers for SRA3+ formats.
The Tornado technology enables the reliable separation and transport of sheets from a stack over a wide range of media types and sizes, without the need for mechanical intervention or adjustment. Using this whirlwind suction effect, traditionally difficult media surfaces, like spot-coated, metallized, textured, and uncoated porous, can be separated easily from a stack. The technology is also modular and can be readily expanded to cover a very high range of weights and thicknesses, ranging from 60gsm uncoated paper up to cartons and display boards. The technology requires no compressed air; job settings can be digitally stored and recovered in seconds. The result is optimized setup times, which virtually eliminates down time and provides a greater yield in production. This system replaces vacuum based solutions that incorporate complex suction cup or vacuum belt elements.
The SIS family of feeders and stackers will share the high versatility of the larger products already produced by BDT, and will specifically address formats from A5 to SRA3+. It will feed the widest range of media of any SRA3+ feeder in the industry. Both feeders and stackers accommodate a stack height of 300mm and a throughput of 11000 sheets/hour with industry leading reliability. The SIS product line will make the Tornado technology available to a price point suitable for light production printing and finishing applications.
"This patent, and our newest SIS family of feeders and stackers, are an indication of the significant investment BDT Media Automation is making in the print and packaging market, and yet another example of the technical innovation and capability BDT brings to our customers and to our partners" said Ralf Hipp, Executive VP of Print Media Handling. "This patent joins a portfolio of over 100 patents BDT has been granted."
