Thread: Komori Lithrone 40 Hickeys

Originally Posted by wiseguy

Okey! About Hickeys in Komori 40. I´ve been printing on presses from 10 to 78 inches and I have never seen so much hickeys in my life as I have since I started printing on Komori 40. There is not only maintenance - there is also mechanical differences that have influences on the amount of hickeys generated in yor press and I can tell you there is differences between Komori and other presses ve been on . But to convice Richard that something could be better in any other press than Komori - that day we can teach the talibans there is a better way than suecide bombing.

Your opinion is valid...however, if you're going to make such a statement I'd like some serious, rational justification for it. Not just 'mechanical differences'.

I'd like to know: press condition, roller rubber shore hardness, fount solution, ambient temperature and %RH in the pressroom, blanket type, paper type and condition as well as ink brand and tack values, running speeds...and which countries you've had these experiences in.

As for your observation regarding my press preference - well having run various formats and makes of press since 1971 I feel that I can justify my opinion.

But please no ridiculous comparisons with the Taliban.

It does remind me that when I was selling Komori in Spain there was a moment during Graphispag that one of my sales team was deep in conversation with his opposite number from Heidelberg. They were discussing job opportunities and my name came up (no false modesty here).

Anyway, the short story is that my salesman said that it would be a pretty cold day in hell for any Heidelberg job offer to be accepted by me since I had such an overwhelming belief in Komori presses.

So I suppose a little of that comes over in my postings...you'll just have to get over it

Well Richard - I think you just confirmed my opinion about the possibility of you changing your mind. I used to be impressed of Komori before I started working on them. I´ve heard in the last 20 years about how great presses Komori are - never a problem - put plates in the press push the button and print. Not to mention all the trouble people face with other brands. Is that the fact - well I started to wonder, how can Komori companies go out of business under those circumstances. Next thing is to study a site for used presses, do the Komoris have so much more on the counter than the others - I cannot find any facts pointing in that direction. So I think I´ll stick with my opinion until the press I am printing on gives me less ache in my head and my back.
About the press I am working on, L640 coating and delivery extension + AMR,KHS,APC,PDC,CIP4 and all washers. By far the most advanced press I´ve been working on. Still on a good day I can get out up to 60 to 70 percent of what I got out of a SM102 only automation was blanket washers. But it was runnung constantly at 13K an hour withot problems ( top speed ).
By the way - what a spelling I had in my previous posting the only excuse i have is that english is not my native language.

Originally Posted by wiseguy

Well Richard - I think you just confirmed my opinion about the possibility of you changing your mind.

?? OMG how wrong can you be

As for more Komori printers going bust than Heidelberg printers...never going to be, since the big H has a much higher market penetration than Komori.

Originally Posted by wiseguy

I´ve heard in the last 20 years about how great presses Komori are - never a problem - put plates in the press push the button and print.

Komori / Heidelberg /Roland / Mitsubishi - no litho press will fulfill this statement. You need a high skill level on any press to get the best out of it. Funnily enough, the press hasn't been created yet that runs on zero skills.

The truth is that all major press manufacturers put out pretty decent machinery these days...the one's that don't/didn't aren't going to be around long as word travels faster to day than ever before ( as just a quick run thru' this forum will show).

The days of Color Metal (chain sheet drive between units, no transfers until all printing finished sounded great at the time - but then chains stretch don't they?), Oris, Thompson, Waite & Saville, Crabtree Vickers are over.

You still haven't validated your earlier post claim so all it tells me you can run a Heidelberg better than you can a Komori...no shame in that, you just need more time on the big K.

My old boss used to say, and I think he was quite wise in this respect, "never rubbish the opposition...you never know when you might have to work for them!"

As for your spelling - don't give it a second thought, as this forum is global I'm impressed at the level of English (spelt correctly or not) from the further flung corners of the world.

You don't mention which country you are in, it's always of interest to me to see where members hail from.

"My old boss used to say, and I think he was quite wise in this respect, "never rubbish the opposition...you never know when you might have to work for them!"

also no matter what issues you have had with an employer never ever leave a company ranting and raving and talking trash about the business they did , you never know where a manager may end up working down the road and there no value in badmouthing any person that works in the same trade where we are all trying to do our best....

My personal best thus far,was 75,000 imp between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm. (lunchtime), on a L640 fully automated. Easily, over 100,000 a day. I just didn't feel like doing more than that. KOMORI-CHA-CHING!!!!!!!!!!!!1

L440 (second one in the UK), 1986 and a 12 hour night shift with a half hour break
On a quarter million run we madeready 4 cols and pumped out 128,000...did we get any recognition?

Nope...zip, zero, nada

I suppose we did it to show we could do it.

Admittedly it wasn't a demanding job

That's the sad part my friend, you give them an inch and they'll take a mile. " What do you mean you've only got 50,000 off today? Yesterday you got over 100,000 off. I know but "It's not the same stock!" Well what's the difference? BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Most print shop owners are number one, "NOT PRESSMAN" and number two, do not factor in the differences between jobs, stock,coverage. etc.... They will NEVER LEARN!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by RichardK

L440 (second one in the UK), 1986 and a 12 hour night shift with a half hour break
On a quarter million run we madeready 4 cols and pumped out 128,000...did we get any recognition?

Nope...zip, zero, nada

I suppose we did it to show we could do it.

Admittedly it wasn't a demanding job

Yes but more so for yourself you do what you do...I work the same no matter where or what the circumstances , I think its how your brought up in the trade , ya know certain work ethics stick with you all your life....

Originally Posted by Loupeyeyed

That's the sad part my friend, you give them an inch and they'll take a mile. " What do you mean you've only got 50,000 off today? Yesterday you got over 100,000 off. I know but "It's not the same stock!" Well what's the difference? BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Most print shop owners are number one, "NOT PRESSMAN" and number two, do not factor in the differences between jobs, stock,coverage. etc.... They will NEVER LEARN!!!!!!!!!

your gonna get that ,and you do your best no matter what , like I said I work the same way I always have , the best job I can do , Im super critical of myself but yeah it can be discouraging when you hear stupid comments like that....thats the business were in eh?
press on...

Steve