SHEET-FED PRINTING PRESS FOR SIMULTANEOUS RECTO-VERSO PRINTING OF SHEETS, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SECURITY DOCUMENTS

There is described a sheet-fed printing press (1000; 1000*) adapted to carry out recto-verso printing of individual sheets (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising one or more printing units (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) each adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets (S), each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) including two printing cylinders (105, 106) cooperating with one another and forming a printing nip where both sides of the sheets (S) are simultaneously printed, the two printing cylinders (105, 106) each collecting ink patterns from at least two associated plate cylinders (15A, 15B, 16A, 16B). The two printing cylinders (105, 106) are located one above the other such that the sheets (S) travel laterally through each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) from a first lateral side (201a; 201a*) located upstream of the printing nip to a second lateral side (201b; 201b*) opposite to the first lateral side (201a; 201a*) and located downstream of the printing nip.