Thread: Getting a Lithrone 528 - what should I look out for?

In a weeks my employer is installing a 2001 Komori Lithrone 528 and I would like to know what sort of issues I should be expecting to come across in the first few weeks? My previous press is a Akiyama BestTech from the 80's so I'm expecting a steep learning curve!
Apparently the rollers are 8 mths old but of course will need to be reset. Also the press is coming from Europe and I'm in Australia. Any idea on good fountain solutions and %'s I should be running for Australian, Victorian conditions?

Thanks in advance!

By the way this is my first post ever on any forum!

you're not getting any training from the seller , I would try to contact the last pressman for the heads up on things , other than that its fairly easy to adapt . I never even saw a Komori till 2 weeks ago , now Im running one....but its a sprint 26" , as far as fountain sollution here I use Prisco and I think they are a global company and have pretty good stuff , are you gonna be running RO water? anyway good luck you'll get help here there's a lot of Komori pressman that post here!
welcome

Steve

You are in for a treat, the komori will be a nice improvement. Where in europe did it come from, conditions can vary from country to country and will sure as hell be different to australia.
I use prisco fountain solution also (6 years), its excellent and i have never had a problem with it.

The press is coming from either uk or France, I can't remember. At the moment I use hostman steinberg fount called combi-dry, I'll probably be able to keep using it although we may be swapping all our ink and fount
to another supplier soon.
Just thought maybe other newbies might have an idea of common mistakes or problems they had when first got onto a lithrone?

UK or France? i assume youve bought it from Whitehorse machinery AKA CCI?

Not sure of the name of the company, but the Rep I've talked to is Alex. The engineer I've met is named Morgan. I'll try and find out their name on tuesday next week, we have a long weekend this week. My company is very sketchy on details which is the only thing that's making me nervous, more than running a new press! They are from a publishing background not printing and they've never seen a press like this installed, I think they are in for a massive surprise!
They have arranged some training but I don't know how good it's going to be.

But you already know how to print so dont let the machine shake your confidence , its like anything else in a few weeks youll be saying how easy it was to pick it up....I havent had much time on the 40" Lithone but what I did find is the consol and plate register system makes your life a little easier , remember you tell the press what to do not the other way around!.....
cheers

Steve

oh and by the a lot of the demo guys/trainers have never worked in a production enviroment but theyll get you familiar with the controls.....

Its a long way to be bringing a press, Europe to Australia.

"remember you tell the press what to do not the other way around!....."


thanks steveo, there a lot of truth to that statement. but i know for the first few weeks anyway the press will be leading me, i'm just after a few tips to swing the balance in my favour sooner rather than later.

Yes it is a long way to bring a press, but i know of 2 other komori's that came form the UK to Geelong as well, so its not that strange. Plus the strong aussie $ apparently makes it way cheaper to buy from over there than here!

If it's okay with your boss, I would inspect the press for cleanliness. Check the impression cylinders, face of the ink slides/keys, delivery, rollers, etc... One mistake a lot of print shop owners make is installing a used machine in used condition and expecting it to print beautifully. If the press is dirty or neglected, I would recommend Ice cleaning first. And most importantly, all of the rollers in EVERY unit need to be taken out and reset if not completely replaced. A Komori is a user friendly press and in the long run I think you will be pleasantly surprised. But like any machine, it needs to be taken care of properly. I hope that your boss recognizes this before attempting to print with it. I wouldn't be as concerned with your fountain solution as I would be with the shape of the press. Cam followers need inspection, grippers etc...