Emergency Replacement, Start-up Company Among Reasons for Latest Heidelberg Installs

KENNESAW, GA—July 20, 2012—Heidelberg has announced the following new CTP system, sheetfed press and postpress product installations at Cube Services, BAMA Printing, Econo Print and Keno Graphic Services.

Cube Services Benefits from Coordinated Effort by Heidelberg

It was Heidelberg to the rescue when Cube Services in Reno, NV, found itself in urgent straits recently, its existing platesetter having broken down in the midst of the company’s move to larger quarters. With its sales and technical teams working together, Heidelberg was able to document, ship and install a new A52 Suprasetter CTP system with workflow within a week after the order was placed.

“Installation was so fast it practically happened backward,” said company vice president Mark McKinnon.

Being leader of the market for backstage passes for music and sporting events, Cube’s business “is all about how fast we can turn things around,” McKinnon said. Leaving little to chance, the company owns assorted duplicate equipment to ensure continuity in event of a breakdown—everything, in fact, but a second platesetter. (Ironically, there hadn’t been room for one in the original facility.)

“We’d been looking at a Heidelberg Suprasetter to replace our existing CTP device for some time,” McKinnon explained. “This situation gave us an opportunity to see how fast Heidelberg could get us a new machine.”

The old platesetter broke on a Wednesday. On Thursday, McKinnon heard from Heidelberg’s shipping department, which said it could get the equipment on a truck from Georgia that afternoon. Heidelberg’s installation team checked in next to schedule its arrival. The new platesetter was en route to Reno over the weekend, and on Cube’s doorstep by Wednesday with the installation team waiting. The company ran test plates until training took place the following week.

Now that the platesetter is fully deployed imaging Saphira Chemfree plates for the company’s Printmaster press, “Our pressmen absolutely love it,” McKinnon said, “especially the internal punching mechanism that gives them maximum register accuracy. Thanks to the automated single cassette loader, they no longer have to wait for plates, freeing them for any of 100 other things they have to do. Our all-around efficiency is also up. Over time, that amounts to a competitive advantage in our fast-paced business.”

The energy-saving design of the A52 Suprasetter also dovetails nicely with Cube Services’ focus on environmentally responsible production.

This latest incident has done nothing to diminish McKinnon’s admiration for Heidelberg equipment, sales, and service.

“I would buy a Heidelberg coffee machine if Heidelberg made them,” McKinnon said. “Any printer who wants to succeed and grow in business can’t afford not to buy Heidelberg.”

Cube Services designs and prints to specifications for the management of various entertainment entities, and ships internationally. The company employs a staff of 25.

BAMA Printing Hits the Ground Running with Platesetter, Press, POLAR Cutter and Consumables from Heidelberg

Established just five months ago, BAMA Printing in West Palm Beach, FL, is starting business on the right foot with multiple installations from Heidelberg USA. In recent years, the company had seen the volume of its outside printing work increase to the point where it made better business sense to bring its printing and prepress in house. With the encouragement of its largest customer, the busy direct mail house invested in a Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press, Suprasetter A52 thermal CTP device used to image Heidelberg Saphira plates, and a high-speed POLAR 115 Xplus guillotine used to cut both raw and finished sheets.

As a result of its insourcing decision, the company expects to save thousands of dollars each year over the cost of farming out work to a third-party provider, according to Managing Member John Vanginhoven. Although the company consulted other vendors when selecting an equipment supplier, Heidelberg’s proven history of quality and timely expert service ultimately proved decisive, Vanginhoven said, adding that the results thus far have more than met with the customer’s approval.

Econo Print Gains Productivity, Competitive Edge with Stahlfolder Ti 36

Answering the demand from its customers in the automotive and entertainment industries, Econo Print, Inc. (Pinckney, MI) has installed a two-station Stahlfolder Ti 36 miniature and small-format folder from Heidelberg, becoming the first company in its service area to do so. The full-service commercial and trade printer will press its newfound competitive advantage by aggressively marketing the new folder’s capabilities to other clients.

“We were persuaded by the makeready, ease of use, and precision of the folder, and by how quickly and professionally Heidelberg went about fulfilling our order,” said Econo Print’s president and owner Ted Stilber. “We went from order to production in less than five weeks, including training. Since the installation, we’ve seen our productivity increase by around 50 percent. The quality of the folds is excellent.”

Keno Graphic Services Upgrades with Suprasetter A75 CtP Device and Saphira Chemfree Plates

Keno Graphic Services in Shelton, CT has opted for higher print quality and outstanding waste reduction with the installation of a compact, energy-efficient Suprasetter A75 thermal CTP device from Heidelberg. The new platesetter is configured with internal punching and debris removal system, and is used to image Heidelberg Saphira Chemfree plates for the company’s Speedmaster SM 74 six-color press.

“We chose the Heidelberg Suprasetter for the full automation, low energy consumption, and reduced waste,” said Dan Kennedy, who co-owns the company with his brother, Bill. “Not only can we set up the platesetter at the close of business and have plates ready for us in the morning, but thanks to the internal punching mechanism, the and the plates are in register and press-ready in short order.

“Makereadies are much faster, and our pressroom is thrilled with the increased productivity per shift. We expect to realize substantial long-term savings and a significant environmental benefit as a result of this upgrade,” Kennedy added.

The company operates Heidelberg presses, a POLAR cutter, and assorted Stahlfolders. It also uses Saphira pressroom chemicals and aqueous coatings.

Keno Graphic Services is a 22-year-old commercial printer serving clients in the financial, pharmaceutical and medical markets.

Source: Heidelberg.