SUPPLIER news
40˝ Speedmaster CX 102 Debuts
KENNESAW, GA—Combining some of the innovations developed for its Peak Performance Class Speedmaster XL 105 press with the long-standing success of the Speedmaster CD 102 platform, Heidelberg USA hosted some 100 commercial, label and package printers at its headquarters here last month for the North American launch of the 40˝ Speedmaster CX 102 press, which debuted at IPEX earlier this year.
Designed to fill the gap between the Speedmaster XL 105 and CD 102, "the CX 102 launch is the right press, at the right time," noted Clarence Penge, vice president of sheetfed product management, while providing an overview of the new press design. Able to reach speeds of 16,500 sph, the short-makeready CX 102 fits nicely between the 18,000 sph XL 105 and the 15,000 sph CD 102, he said.
Capable of printing thin paper, heavy board stock and difficult substrates, the new press incorporates the gripper system and cylinder bearings found on the XL 105 with a new, stronger printing unit design. The CX 102 is also equipped with the XL 105's fully automated Preset Plus feeder, Preset Plus delivery and dynamic sheet brake. All settings are controlled centrally by the Prinect Press Center with wallscreen integrated with the Prinect Axis Control, Image Control, and the spectrophotmetric Inpress Control color and register measurement system. Jim Mauro, Prinect press control systems product manager, also provided an overview of Heidelberg's Image Control "Next Generation" system, which will be available early next year.
The six-color, 40˝ Speedmaster CX 102-6 with coater demonstrated at Heidelberg's North American Printing and Packaging Technology Center ran three separate jobs to showcase its fast job changeover capabilities, high print quality and maximum running speed. Optional demonstrations were also provided of Heidelberg's Dymatrix Pro 106 CSB diecutter and Diana X 115 folder/gluer.
As attendees first arrived, they passed by a customized, red Unisource 18-wheeler truck that was parked in front of the Heidelberg USA headquarters facility to highlight the national distribution and bundling agreement announced last June between the two companies. Currently being rolled out in stages starting in the Southeast, customers will have single-source access to Unisource paper and Heidelberg Saphira consumables.
They will be delivered from Unisource's distribution centers for, in many cases, same-day order and delivery. During the welcome dinner, Heidelberg USA President Jim Dunn announced that Atlanta-based Offset Press had received the first "real-life" order as part of the new distribution arrangement.
"They made their order this morning, and it was on their loading dock late this afternoon," he revealed.
A new standard-class letter co-mingling solution has been created for commercial printers and lettershops by ALG Worldwide Logistics. The co-mingling operation will initially be based at ALG's 500,000-square-foot "super center" in Romeoville, IL, with expansion planned in 2011 to its 300,000-square foot center in –Harrisburg, PA.
Plumtree Co., a provider of Copycounters (shingled stream sensors) for the printing industry, has assumed the operations of both DENEX Inc. and RTE. All service and support, as well as future sales of DENEX and RTE products, are now handled by Plumtree.
Xingraphics held its fifth annual technical workshop last month at its headquarters in Chengdu, China, for its authorized global partners. The Xingraphics technical team, including its overseas product managers, were on hand to offer presentations on the new FIT eCO Primo processless, FIT Xtra Melior and FIT News thermal CTP plates.
Van Son Holland Ink has announced a new brand awareness and marketing campaign for the commercial printing market. Called "Color Made Simple," it touts the "simple" values essential to best-of-breed pressroom management and efficiency. It features a new creative image, corporate brochure and an interactive white paper campaign on industry best practices.
U.K.-based Intec Printing Solutions has opened an office in the United States and hired Michael Sparbeck as vice president of sales and marketing for North America. Intec color digital printing presses are now available from a number of authorized Intec distributors.
manroland and U.K.-based Web-to-print solutions provider RedTie Ltd. have entered into a strategic partnership to build awareness of the benefits of offering an effective Web-to-print solution for commercial printers. manroland also announced that George Newkirk has been appointed regional sales manager, sheetfed, covering Chicago and Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
James Tressler has been promoted to director of marketing and branch operations at C.P. Bourg Inc. Tressler reports to Richard Trapilo, executive vice president and general manager.
Presstek Inc. has launched a new customer loyalty program, Presstek Awards, that offers customers "Presstek Points" based on purchases of consumable supplies directly from the company. The points can be redeemed for merchandise, travel services, event tickets and more.
At Braden Sutphin Ink, John Oeste has been named director of sales and marketing. He has an extensive background in sales team management, national accounts and new business development.
Two appointments have been made at Agfa Graphics. Jim Sause, former president of the Pitman Co., has been named executive vice president of business development and marketing. Ruben Silva, previously managing director of Agfa Graphics, Canada, has been promoted to vice president of sales and service at Agfa Graphics North America.
Jay Farr, general manager of EFI Pace at EFI, has been selected as the new financial officer and treasurer for the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organization. Tim Daisy, QTMS sales and marketing executive at Prism Group, was named education and marketing officer for CIP4.
Prisco (Printers' Service) has opened a new manufacturing facility near Charlotte, NC, for pressroom chemistry used in offset, flexographic and gravure printing processes.
Prism and Online Print Solutions (OPS) have expanded their reseller agreement. They also announced that the current integration of Prism WIN to OPS Card Express has expanded to a fully integrated workflow platform to include not only Web-to-print, but also real-time job submission, variable data printing and cross-media marketing solutions.
Mark Becker is the new president and CEO at Baldwin Technology. Serving as a member of Baldwin's board of directors for nine years, he succeeds Karl Puehringer, who will serve as a company advisor.
Central National-Gottesman's Lindenmeyr Munroe division has acquired the assets and business of Frank Parsons' fine paper division, which consists of locations in or near Baltimore; Washington, DC; Lynchburg, VA; Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA; Harrisburg, PA; and Pittsburgh. Also included in the sale are six wholesale paper stores. PI
