Heidelberg Users Look to Optimize Workflow Efficiency in 2009

KENNESAW, GA—January 8, 2009—Heidelberg USA regards the high attendance at its sixth annual “Brats and Dots” open house as an indication that printers are continuing to evaluate new equipment and looking to invest in solutions that will help them secure their businesses for the future, despite the flagging economy. Held last month at Heidelberg’s Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) in Kennesaw, Ga., the event drew more than 200 area printers, who came to see first-hand the largest array of Heidelberg prepress, press, postpress, Prinect workflow, consumable and service solutions on display anywhere in North America.

“Given the challenging economic times we face, it’s vitally important for printers to stay abreast of technologies and solutions that will help them achieve greater productivity in their own shops while delivering maximum value to their customers,” said James Dunn, president of Heidelberg USA. “It’s an encouraging sign for us and for the print media industry as a whole that printers are setting their sights on a plan of wise capital investment that will enable them to sustain and grow their businesses into the future.”

Prinect: Efficiency Your Way
Not surprisingly, Brats and Dots attendees displayed keen interest in Heidelberg’s comprehensive Prinect portfolio, a suite of modular, scalable workflow solutions designed to help printers drive efficiencies across the shop. In the Prinect demonstration area of the PMDC, Heidelberg customers and prospects could experience the benefits of an integrated workflow and determine which solutions best fit their business needs. Attendees took special note of the recently introduced Prinect Postpress Manager, which enables Heidelberg to offer the seamless integration of cutters, stitchers and folders into a uniquely efficient, overall shop workflow.

“Now more than ever printers are looking for ways to better manage, control, and reduce costs” said Ray Weidele, plant manager for Geographics. “Events like Brats & Dots allow us to see the latest offering from Heidelberg, like their Prinect Workflow, which provides information to see a job from every financial angle, something that is essential in these unsure economic times. Heidelberg’s impressive portfolio, coupled with our printing expertise, allows us to deliver the best possible product to our customers while controlling costs and reducing expenditures - making for a very compelling value proposition.”

All-Purpose Demo Facility
The 40,000-square-foot PMDC is Heidelberg’s largest demonstration center in North America. The state-of-the art facility is designed to showcase Heidelberg’s entire product portfolio, including its Prinect workflow solutions, computer-to-plate systems, presses, and postpress and packaging equipment in a constantly shifting lineup. In addition to a variety of Prinect workflow solutions, the facility currently houses a selection of 50-plus Heidelberg products, including a Suprasetter 105 MCL platesetter, a 10-color Speedmaster XL 75 press with perfector and coater, a 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with coater and Prinect Inpress Control, a 10-color Speedmaster SM 102 with perfector and CutStar roll sheeter, and a Stahl TH/KH folder.

In addition to the annual Brats and Dots event, Heidelberg conducts training classes and special events at its PMDC throughout the year to connect interested printers with industry experts and to help them stay abreast of the latest technologies. Associations, peer groups, training organizations and other industry alliances enjoy year-round access to the center, which also performs custom demos and product testing. For more information about upcoming events at the Print Media Demonstration Center, visit www.us.heidelberg.com.

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.