GPO Prints Presidential Portrait on a Heidelberg Press

KENNESAW, GA—March 23, 2009—Heidelberg USA is proud to announce that the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has printed the official photographs of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on a 4-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfector. The photographs will hang in more than 7,000 federal installations managed by the U.S. General Services Administration. In all, the GPO will print more than 130,000 photographs in three sizes (8x10”, 11x14” and 20x24”). The portraits are also available for sale at GPO’s Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/inaugural-2009.jsp .

This is the first time The White House has taken the President’s official photograph digitally. GPO used its digital capabilities to produce the photograph of President Obama. Employees then transferred the digital image from a computer to a printing plate and finally to the 4-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102, which produced the high quality product. The President’s photograph is printed on paper containing recycled content and fiber from a sustainably managed forest.

The GPO’s massive operation boasts a fleet of Heidelberg presses, including a 2-color Speedmaster SM perfector, a pair of Speedmaster SM 74 single-color presses, a Speedmaster CD 102 6-color machine and a 7-color Speedmaster CD 102 with hybrid UV capability. The bindery hosts an equally impressive lineup, including a Heidelberg Stitchmaster St 350 8-pocket saddlestitcher, and an assortment of Stahlfolders, high-speed POLAR cutting systems and peripherals.

The GPO has produced a video record of this historic printing, which may be viewed at http://www.gpo.gov/news/videos/video.htm. To download a digital version of the official presidential portrait, visit http://change.gov/page/-/officialportrait.jpg.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
With a global market share for sheetfed offset printing machines of more than 40 percent, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is the world's leading solution provider for commercial and industrial customers in the print media industry. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, the Company focuses on the entire process and value chain for popular format classes in the sheetfed offset and flexographic printing sectors. Apart from printing presses, the product portfolio includes plate imaging devices and finishing equipment, as well as software components designed to integrate all print manufacturing processes. In addition, Heidelberg offers a wide range of spare parts, consumables, used equipment and services, along with extensive training programs provided by the Print Media Academy. Furthermore, the Company assists its customers' investment plans by offering financing concepts. Heidelberg is most active within the major OECD industrial regions and is expanding its involvement within growing markets such as Asia and Eastern Europe. With development and production sites in six countries and some 250 sales offices worldwide, the Company offers services to more than 200,000 customers around the globe. Heidelberg generates 85 percent of global sales through company-owned sales offices and above 85 percent outside of Germany. In fiscal year 2007/2008, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 3.670 billion referring to the divisions Press, Postpress and Financial Services as well as a net profit of Euro 142 million. As of March 31, 2008, the Group employed 19,596 staff worldwide.