Heidelberg to Feature Network Integration, Color Management at GRAPH EXPO

KENNESAW, GA—August 10, 2011—Heidelberg, the world’s largest supplier of print media solutions and service provider to the graphic communications industry, will demonstrate “HEI Flexibility” in Booth 1200 at GRAPH EXPO 2011. “HEI Flexibility” refers to an intelligent combination of offset and digital printing, as well as web-to-print offerings, designed to produce top-quality print products in the most profitable way possible, regardless of run length or variable content.

GRAPH EXPO 2011 is the first North American show at which Heidelberg will present both its new digital and conventional production equipment alongside its Speedmaster presses. Accordingly, GRAPH EXPO will see the U.S. launch of the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition high-speed color digital press. Running at up to 90 ppm, this high-output press is the offset printer’s answer to short runs, variable data printing, and fast turnaround on a wide range of substrates.

Heidelberg also will launch its own Web-to-print solution, giving commercial print shops the chance to enter this market in an affordable way. The company will also exhibit for the first time the VUTEk GS3200 grand-format UV inkjet printer, a hybrid UV device for rigid and roll-to-roll printing.

“As a supplier of all the technologies and support services that define graphic production today, attendees can see these systems in action as they could be in their own plants,” said Jim Dunn, president of Heidelberg USA. “We also want them to know that optimized production comes not just from acquiring the right solutions, but from making them work together at the highest level of performance. Graph Expo, which will attract tens of thousands of visitors over four days, provides the ideal opportunity for us to show attendees how this can work in their shops.”

As visitors approach Booth 1200, they immediately will see a bright red 18-wheeler forming almost one entire wall of the booth. The big rig is courtesy of Unisource, Heidelberg’s partner in Printers Advantage, a new national partnership that makes it easy for printers to obtain all the paper and consumable supplies they need together with world-class technical support, all from a single team dedicated to their success.

Digital Production
In its entirety, Booth 1200 will be a fully networked print shop running live work for the duration of the show, simulating the digitally controlled production environment that Heidelberg can help its customers achieve. It will offer examples of everything a printing company needs to optimize its production and grow its business—not in the form of static equipment displays, but in one seamless example of automated print manufacturing at its most efficient.

In live demonstrations, Heidelberg will exhibit its color management solutions, where attendees can experience color matching across all platforms. The VUTEk GS3200, the Ricoh Pro C901, and the Speedmasters all will be linked in a live, color-managed workflow as they print a variety of materials for a simulated advertising campaign, showcasing Heidelberg’s cross-platform expertise in integrated production and color consistency.

Visitors to Booth 1200 will learn that getting harmonious results from all three processes can be a major competitive advantage for printers who know how to make cross-platform color management part of their everyday production routines. Prinect workflow technology will drive color management and all other integrated functions from a bank of workstations at the center of the booth. Prinect brings “HEI Flexibility” to every phase of print manufacturing by routing jobs quickly and efficiently to production equipment for optimized throughput and higher profitability.

Offset Lithography and Prepress
Representing conventional production will be a pair of Speedmaster presses: a five-color-plus-coater Speedmaster SM 74 featuring Prinect Axis Control and the 40" Wallscreen display; and a five-color-plus-coater Speedmaster SM 52 with Anicolor zoneless inking system for minimal makeready waste. A Suprasetter A75 thermal CtP unit and inkjet proofers from Epson and HP will support the presses.

Postpress
In of the finishing area of the booth are Heidelberg solutions for flexible, automated commercial and package printing postpress: the KAMA ProCut 74 multi-function automatic diecutter; a KAMA ProFold 74 folder-gluer; a POLAR 92 XT high-speed cutter with Compucut job programming software; and a Stahlfolder TH 56 folder with accessories for extra productivity.

Workflow Solutions
Visitors will learn how to “Get Prinected” from order intake to job completion as they view Prinect solutions for integrated production, color management, MIS, and web-to-print in live action in Booth 1200. Among showings of special interest will be the preview of the new Prinect Business Manager professional print management system; the next-generation version of Prinect Image Control, an advanced spectrophotometric color management system; and Heidelberg's new web-to-print solution, a fully functional electronic storefront that provides better brand control, business growth opportunities, and the ability to streamline internal processes.

Paper and Consumables
The big red truck will be a vivid reminder that among the many benefits offered by the Printers Advantage program are simplified ordering, consolidated delivery, improved inventory management and world-class technical support from a single team. An overview of the program can be seen in “The Search for Happiness,” a video at www.youtube.com/HeidelGuy.

Service, Training, and Consulting
For Heidelberg, managing a post-sale relationship means not just honoring the terms of the warranty, but taking an active interest in the customer’s progress on all fronts—a theme that will keynote its presentation of business support services at Graph Expo. In Systemservice, Heidelberg provides the industry’s most comprehensive and flexible support program for new equipment. Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy offers customized training for continuous improvement in every area of graphic production. And through its expanding portfolio of Business Consulting services, Heidelberg also is opening new paths to profitability for its customers in color management, process optimization, sustainable production, and other opportunities for growth.

More customer education will be offered in a series of brief presentations by Heidelberg technology experts in the booth. In these briefings, visitors will learn how consultation with Heidelberg can help them put their capabilities to the best use in every job, for every customer.

Source: Heidelberg.