Heidelberg USA Announces New Product Installation Report

Prepress, Press, Postpress Equipment Installed Around the Country

KENNESAW, GA—August 31, 2006—Heidelberg USA announces the following sample of new product installations:

Lithotone, Inc. Replaces Two Presses, Doubles Productivity with Speedmaster XL 105 Press from Heidelberg

Founded in 1962, Elkhart-Ind.-based Lithotone, Inc. recently installed its first Heidelberg press – a 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with coater. “We looked at the competition, but the XL 105 was the only press we saw that could actually run at its maximum production speeds,” reports Jim Priebe, vice president. Installed to replace two older presses, the new Speedmaster XL 105 has more than doubled productivity in the shop. “We were excited to purchase the new press, but we were ecstatic when it started running and we saw its capabilities,” asserts Priebe, who reports that the shop runs the XL 105 at its maximum capacity of 18,000 sheets per hour at least 80 percent of the time. In addition, Lithotone, Inc. reports improvements in the overall quality of printed materials, due to more accurate registration, stability, and sharper color. According to Priebe, “All of our presses print quality materials, but the new XL 105 does it all the time. We’re comfortable knowing that every job we put on the press will be high-quality.” The company also uses Heidelberg Consumables products, including Perfect Dot blankets and ink fountain liners. Family-owned and operated Lithotone, Inc.’s 53 employees serve a variety of local and national clients, including furniture companies, religious organizations and the recreational vehicle industry.

Abbott Printing Company Takes on More Jobs with Ease with Speedmaster CD 74 Press from Heidelberg

Abbott Printing Company, a family-owned and operated general commercial printer located in Maitland, Fla., recently increased its capacity with the installation of a 5-color Speedmaster CD 74 press with perfector and coater from Heidelberg. “The new press has helped us bring in more work from our existing customers, largely due to faster turnaround times and better quality,” said Dave Abbott, owner of Abbott Printing Company. Abbott reports that since the installation, the company’s productivity has increased by approximately 33 percent. Abbott expects productivity to continue to climb as the shop’s 44 employees continue to familiarize themselves with the press. In addition, the new CD 74 enables Abbott Printing to run heavier stock of up to 30-point board weight without marking, resulting in increased capabilities and improved quality. Running the press at 15,000 sheets per hour, the company uses the equipment to produce a variety of work, such as booklet covers, postcards, mailers and presentation folders for its primarily local customer base. Founded in 1977, Abbott Printing Company serves a wide variety of customers, including those in the advertising and tourism industries.

Graphic Press Relieves Production Pressure with Printmaster PM 74 from Heidelberg

Graphic Press Corp., a general commercial printer in Tallahassee, Fla., recently installed a 4-color Printmaster PM 74 press from Heidelberg to stay abreast of its growing volume. Established in 1992, family-owned Graphic Press had been accumulating up to 20 hours per week in overtime producing full-color work on a trio of two-color presses and sought a way to increase capacity while relieving the stress of its seven hardworking employees. “Our full-color volume had grown so much that two-color presses were no longer a viable option for us,” said President Norman Madsen. In just three months since the installation, the company has dramatically reduced overtime and has doubled its output of high-quality, four-color process work. The Printmaster PM 74’s larger sheet size, faster makeready times and greater capacity also enable Graphic Press to accept a wider variety of longer-run work. “Most of our customers are design agencies,” said Madsen. “They understand that because we are a Heidelberg shop, they don’t have to worry about quality.” According to Madsen, Heidelberg’s systemservice 36plus was a “big selling point” in his decision to upgrade. Graphic Press also uses Heidelberg Consumables, including Perfect Dot Blankets, ink foils and Super Blue nets.

Anderson Direct Marketing Doubles Capacity with Speedmaster CD 74 Press from Heidelberg

A Heidelberg customer for 11 years, Anderson Direct Marketing recently added a 4-color Speedmaster CD 74 press with coater in its San Diego, Calif. facility. Installed to increase capacity and improve quality, the new press joins the shop’s existing 5-color Speedmaster SM 74 press, which recently surpassed 130 million impressions. Since the addition of the CD 74, the company reports that pressroom capacity has doubled, primarily due to the new press’ speed and efficiency. The CD 74 also has increased the shop’s capabilities to include high-end, coated materials. Director of Operations Todd Stoker also reports significant improvements in quality, noting that the press “leaves no marking or hickeys.” Anderson Direct Marketing, a full service direct marketing company specializing in direct mail production, uses the new press to produce a variety of materials for the direct mail industry, including self-mailers, letter forms, inserts, brochures and other collateral. “We always go with Heidelberg because the equipment is reliable and Heidelberg has stood by us over the years,” says Stoker. The shop uses Heidelberg Consumables products, including Perfect Dot blankets, ink fountain liners and PerfectPak packing paper. Founded in 1985, Anderson Direct Marketing employs 170 personnel and serves a national client base that includes multiple Fortune 500 companies and world-leading brands.

Record Printing and Copy Center Brings More Work In-house with Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52

Prior to its installation of a Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52 press with perfector four months ago, Record Printing and Copy Center, a four-color direct mail and newsletter printer in Sioux City, Iowa, had control issues. “We were a two-color printer brokering our four-color work,” said Gene Johnson, a partner in the business. “We installed the Printmaster PM 52 to bring that work in-house and establish more control over the process.” The new machine, which replaces an older two-color press, joins a lineup of five hardworking Heidelberg presses at Record Printing: a 2-color Printmaster GTO 52, a 1-color KORD, a letterpress cylinder and a pair of Windmill presses that were purchased new in 1964 and are still running today. Johnson estimates that the company is already approximately 150 percent more productive with the new PM 52. Record Printing also operates a Heidelberg Suprasetter computer-to-plate device and a 30-inch POLAR 78 high-speed cutter. The shop uses a wide range of Heidelberg Consumables products, including blankets, ink foils, wash-up towels and Super Blue nets, as well as Saphira plates and chemistry. Established in 1901 and currently operated by Gene Johnson and Jeff Vlaanderen, Record Printing and Copy Center’s 11 employees serve a local clientele.

Direct Connection Mailing and Marketing Purchases Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52

Direct Connection Mailing and Marketing recently purchased its first press, a 4-color Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52. With current printing sales comprising one-third of the shop’s total revenue, the new press was installed to keep more work in-house, provide cost-savings and increase efficiency. Direct Connection expects the PM 52 to create new printing opportunities and double printing sales within the next two years. The La Verne, Calif. facility uses the new PM 52 to produce a variety of direct mail materials, including postcards, brochures, newsletters and letterhead. Direct Connection invested in Heidelberg technology based on Heidelberg’s reputation for quality and reliability. The direct mail firm serves a diverse client base in Southern California, which includes non-profit organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, newspapers and churches.

Graphic Composition, Inc. Takes Control of Postpress Operations with KAMA TS 74-60 Die Cutter from Heidelberg

Graphic Composition, Inc. recently achieved greater control of its postpress activities with the installation of a KAMA TS 74-60 die cutter from Heidelberg. Installed to improve quality and keep more work in-house, Graphic Composition President Mark Jungen reports that the KAMA die cutter, along with the hot and cold foil stamping and embossing options, enables the shop to expedite the delivery of finished products to customers. The shop installed the new die cutter to complement the DI technology in its pressroom, which boasts a Speedmaster 74 DI press and a Quickmaster QM DI 46 press from Heidelberg. “We pride ourselves on service and quick turnaround,” said Jungen. “With the new equipment, we now have more capacity and can move jobs through the bindery much faster.” Founded in 1948, the Greenville, Wis. shop has 41 employees who service national clients in the food, electric and retail industries, along with advertising agencies and other printers in the trade. The company currently uses the new KAMA die cutter to produce a variety of materials, including packaging, pocket folders, point-of-purchase displays, brochures and promotional collateral and annual reports.

Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46 Helps Apex Commercial Printing Keep More Work In-house

Arif Siddiq, owner of Apex Commercial Printing in Atlanta, Ga., says his company’s sales have increased significantly in the three months since Apex installed a 2-color Printmaster QM 46 press from Heidelberg. A printer to the trade, Apex had been using its existing Heidelberg presses, a 4-color Speedmaster SM 52 and a 5-color Speedmaster SM 74 press with coater, to produce its one- and two-color materials. With the bulk of these jobs now being handled by the QM 46, says Siddiq, Apex not only has created additional capacity on the larger presses, but now can accept a wider range of jobs, including envelopes, carbonless forms, letterheads and embossed invitations. “The QM 46 is rapidly paying for itself in our higher revenues,” Siddiq confirms. “It gives us a lot of volume and keeps the customers’ work in-house.” Apex also operates a Heidelberg Prosetter computer-to-plate device, a POLAR 78 cutter and a Stahlfolder USA B-20. The shop uses Heidelberg’s prepress and press Consumables products. Apex was established in 1995 and has been a Heidelberg customer “since day one,” says Siddiq – with excellent results. “Since we installed the Speedmaster SM 74 and Prosetter two years ago, our annual revenue has jumped from $800,000 to $2.2 million and rising,” he concludes. “Heidelberg adds value to our company.”

Ripon Printers Increases Productivity with Installation of Speedmaster CD 74 Press Alongside Speedmaster SM 74 Press from Heidelberg

Ripon Printers, based in Ripon, Wis., recently installed a 6-color Speedmaster CD 74 press with perfector from Heidelberg to upgrade technology from an older press. Since the installation, the company reports an increase in productivity, primarily due to the press’ speed and automation. A long-time Heidelberg customer, Ripon Printers relies on sheetfed presses for consistent quality and efficiency, and installed the CD 74 to accommodate its 8-color Speedmaster SM 74 with perfector. When deciding how to make his pressroom more efficient, the company’s Sheetfed Supervisor, Mark Bethke, says he stayed with Heidelberg since his shop’s employees “are consistently impressed with the press performance.” Ripon Printers relies on Heidelberg’s systemservice experts, whom Bethke describes as “very reliable, always on time and producing great work.” Ripon Printers also uses Heidelberg Consumables products, including ink fountain foils and wash-up cloths. Founded in 1962, Ripon Printers specializes in book and magazine printing. The company employs a staff of approximately 330, with sales representatives on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

The Hubbard Co. Boosts Quality, Output with Printmaster QM 46 Press from Heidelberg

When the Hubbard Co., a small commercial printer in Defiance, Ohio, needed greater speed and better quality, it turned to Heidelberg for the answer. Four months ago, the company installed a 2-color Printmaster QM 46 press from Heidelberg to increase output of two-color letterhead, envelopes, business cards and small publication work. According to Don Correll, pressroom supervisor, the investment has resulted in a higher volume of clean, professional-quality printing. “Heidelberg presses are very reliable, and the new Printmaster QM 46 is no exception,” says President Tom Hubbard. “We have been impressed by the print quality, ease of operation and quick makeready times. The QM 46 has been a great addition to our pressroom.” The company, which runs the new press throughout two shifts, also operates a pair of 29-inch Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 presses and a pair of Heidelberg Windmill letterpresses. In addition to handling retail traffic through a store-front office supply business, the Hubbard Co.’s 40 employees serve a local, regional and national client base.

The Printer Transitions to Computer-to-Plate with Heidelberg’s Prosetter 74 Platesetter

The Printer, a general commercial printer located in Davis, Calif., recently installed its first computer-to-plate (CtP) device, a Prosetter 74 from Heidelberg. Added to improve quality and efficiency in its prepress department, the Prosetter 74 was the obvious choice for Owner Howard Galbreath, who asserts, “We always look at Heidelberg first because Heidelberg has unmatched professionalism in the industry.” Since the installation, the shop reports significant improvements in quality, such as sharper dots and better registration and screen values, and an easy integration into the shop’s workflow. The shop also uses Heidelberg Consumables products, including Saphira Violet plates and chemistry, to maximize prepress efficiencies. The Printer, which boasts an all-Heidelberg pressroom and prepress department, serves a primarily local clientele that includes graphic designers, book publishers and small businesses. Founded in 1966, the family-owned and operated shop has a staff of 10 employees.

Color-Graphic Printing Lightens Its Load with New Printmaster QM 46 Press from Heidelberg

Color-Graphic Printing Inc., a medium-sized, general commercial printer located in Springfield, Mo., recently installed a second 2-color Printmaster QM 46 press from Heidelberg to increase capacity. According to Owner Steve Johnson, the busy company has significantly increased its output of short-run duplicator-type work, including carbonless forms, letterhead and two-color brochures, since the new press was installed in May. In addition to the twin Printmaster QM 46 presses, Color-Graphic Printing also operates a 4-color Speedmaster SM 102, a 6-color Speedmaster CD 74, a 5-color Speedmaster SM 52 and two single-color Heidelberg S-Line presses. The company’s all-Heidelberg bindery hosts a Stitchmaster ST 270 saddlestitcher, 45-inch and 36-inch POLAR cutters, and a trio of Stahlfolders. Established in 1969, Color-Graphic Printing’s 40 employees serve a primarily regional clientele.

Star Press of Pearl River Boosts Productivity 200 Percent with POLAR 115X from Heidelberg

Star Press of Pearl River, a general commercial printer located in Pearl River, N.Y., recently installed a high-speed programmable POLAR 115X cutter to replace an older, non-automated model and eliminate bottlenecking in its bindery. “We are easily 200 to 300 percent more productive with the new cutter,” said Vice President Eugene Nicolich, who explains that prior to the installation, Star Press’s folders and stitchers often would have to wait up to an hour for the non-automated cutter to complete its work. “The cutter was our backlog,” Nicolich said. “We had to cut each side of the lift manually. It was inefficient and hard on the operators. Thanks to the programmed cutting made possible by the new POLAR 115X, our bindery can start working as soon as the first lift is cut. It’s a huge time- and labor-saver.” Established in 1927, family owned Star Press of Pearl River serves the small- to mid-size corporate, advertising and educational markets both in the U.S. and abroad, and expects to show around 65 percent growth this year.

Oakwood Premier Printing Adds Two Printmaster QM 46 Presses from Heidelberg

Oakwood Premier Printing Owners, Steve and Donna Free, purchased their first Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46 press in 1995 to replace three older presses. Over the years, the Oakwood, Ga. general commercial printer has had a total of five Heidelberg presses, including the two most recently installed 2-color QM 46 machines. Running at their maximum speeds of 10,000 impressions per hour, the QM 46 presses help the shop produce a variety of business materials for both local and national clients. When speaking of his experience with Heidelberg presses, Free says, “I wouldn’t buy anything else.” Since the installation of the two newest Printmaster presses, Free reports that the shop’s productivity has increased approximately 85 to 90 percent. In addition to its all-Heidelberg pressroom, Oakwood Premier Printing uses Heidelberg Consumables products, including Saphira Violet plates, Cristala Quickplate polyester plates and chemistry. Oakwood Premier Printing’s 14 employees service more than 1,000 different accounts, including those in the poultry and manufacturing industries. The family-owned printer was founded in 1989.

Apex Die Corp. Promotes Bindery Safety with POLAR 115X Cutting System from Heidelberg

The 75 employees at San Carlos, Calif.-based Apex Die Corp. are grateful for the installation of a new POLAR 115X cutting system from Heidelberg. President Kevin Cullen purchased the new cutter and cutting system to minimize the employee strain associated with the manual operation of his previous cutter. Cullen reports that the features of the new system, such as automated jogging and aerating of the paper, have greatly increased safety in the shop since the POLAR 115X was installed. The company reports numerous other benefits of the highly-automated cutting system, including improved quality and faster cutting times. Cullen reports that the new system is “at least 50 to 75 percent faster” than his old system and that Apex Die uses the cutter to cut fine papers. Founded in 1956, Apex Die Corp. is a family-owned and operated trade finisher offering a full roster of services, such as UV coating, die cutting, foil stamping, embossing and laminating. The company serves a variety of clients, including commercial printers, wineries and technology companies in the Silicon Valley area.

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 world-wide, 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 well above 80 percent outside of Germany. In fiscal year 2005/2006, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 3.586 billion referring to the divisions Press, Postpress and Financial Services as well as a net profit of Euro 135 million.

As of March 31, 2006, the Group employed 18,716 staff worldwide.