Ambitious Printers Get 'State of the Art' with Heidelberg Technology

When you set out to move a piece of printing equipment as large and sophisticated as a 6-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105, a four-mile move across town can be every bit as nerve-wracking as 400-mile trek. Just ask Mike Brynes, pressroom manager at Westland Printers, Laurel, MD, which recently merged with another local printer (S&S Graphics) when its building lease expired. With the help of Heidelberg Systemservice experts, however, the move went off without a hitch - and with four days to spare off the estimated timeline.

“Heidelberg helped us every step of the way,” Brynes said. “From the initial site inspection and preparation to the dismantling of the press to the pre- and post-move quality testing, Heidelberg technicians supervised the activities of the professional riggers during the move itself, reconfigured our software, and made sure our IT data transferred intact. Heidelberg mechanics even stayed on site for an additional week after the re-installation to troubleshoot any problems. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re in such capable hands is enormous. Based on our experience during this move,” Brynes added, “I’m absolutely convinced that Heidelberg provides the best value in the business for the services we needed – at a very competitive price.”

In the year-and-a-half since it was originally installed, Westland’s Speedmaster XL 105 has transformed the company’s pressroom operations. “It brought us out of the Stone Age in terms of our makeready times and productivity,” Brynes said. “Our run speeds are double what they were, with no lag time whatsoever. We literally can print in the morning and deliver in the afternoon.” Thanks to the care and attention of Heidelberg’s installation and relocation technicians, Brynes added, it’s business as usual at Westland Printers’ new location.

Besides the Speedmaster XL 105, Westland also relocated a 2-color Speedmaster SM 102 perfector, a 5-color GTO and a pair of standalone POLAR cutters. The merged company has around 100 employees.