Heidelberg Donates Polar Cutter to Cal Poly

KENNESAW, GA—Feb. 7, 2011—Heidelberg USA has donated a top-of-the-line, high-speed, programmable Polar 92 XT paper cutter with CompuCut to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, CA, for use in the organization’s Graphic Communication Department curriculum and Graphic Communication Institute for research and training. The new cutter was dedicated during Cal Poly’s four-day celebration of the 2011 International Printing Week from Jan. 25-28. Training on the machine already has begun.

The new, JDF-compliant guillotine replaces a 10-year-old Polar cutter, and joins a four-color Speedmaster CD 74 perfector, a pair of Printmaster QM 46-4s and assorted prepress equipment previously donated to support Cal Poly’s mission of educating students preparing to enter the graphic communication field, and for industry education and research.

“Heidelberg and Cal Poly have been mutually supportive partners for many years, and we share a like-minded approach to the task of preparing the next generation of industry leadership,” said Harvey Levenson, Professor and Head of the Graphic Communication Department at Cal Poly. “Through the years, Heidelberg has shown extraordinary sensitivity to the needs of our workforce, and been extremely generous in its support of our academic and research programs. The new Polar cutter is the latest in a long line of contributions Heidelberg has made to advance our training and education initiatives.”

“Heidelberg is committed to advancing the cause of graphic arts education on many fronts,” said James Martin, senior vice president of marketing for Heidelberg USA. “Moreover, we back up that commitment with donations of money and equipment to Cal Poly because they are as passionate in their support of our industry as we are, knowing that our gift will be used to create exciting opportunities for students poised to become our next generation of leadership.”

Functionality to Spare
The Polar 92 XT cuts semi-finished and finished products made of paper, cardstock, paperboard, plastic foils, etc. in the medium-size format range. It can be combined with peripheral equipment to ease the workload on the operator. The basic model Polar 92 X is equipped with OptiKnife, automatic graphic programming, and the major functions for an almost fully automated working sequence. The programmable Polar 92 XT adds a number of functions and modes of operation, including process visualization, alpha-keyboard for text input; programmable parameters (clamping pressure, pre-clamping time, backgauge speed, etc.), which are automatically displayed with every cut size; and backgauge compensation for every program.

About Cal Poly
Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department (www.grc.calpoly.edu) offers a curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. Beyond acquiring a foundation in graphic communication, students select a specialization among the department’s concentrations of design reproduction technology, Web and digital media, graphic communication management, graphics for packaging, and individualized course of study in graphic communication. Graduates of these programs are in high demand by leading national and international corporations.

Located on the campus of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA, the Graphic Communication Institute (GrCI) (www.grci.calpoly.edu) is a unique facility designed to support education in the graphic arts industry. The GrCI was established in July of 2001. The Institute, like Cal Poly, promotes the idea that people learn by doing. GrCI workshops are heavily geared for hands-on learning.

Source: Press release.