Palm Printing Expands Into Packaging with Suite of HEIDELBERG Solutions
Recognizing new potential in its offset business, Palm Printing, a Sarasota-based, family-owned printer, recently converted from a half-size shop to full-size by installing a refurbished Speedmaster CX 102-5+L, new Suprasetter A106 CtP, and new POLAR N115 Plus high-speed cutter. The company, looking to use its enhanced capabilities to expand into commercial packaging, also recently installed a new Easymatrix 106 CS die-cutter and Diana Go 85 folder gluer. The suite of products from HEIDELBERG will help Palm Printing meet current customer demand, increase efficiency, and develop new business opportunities.
Seizing the Opportunity
For over thirty-five years, Palm Printing has focused on commercial printing solutions, specializing in mailing and publication production. The company, equipped with a Speedmaster CD 74 and XL 75 in addition to a Versafire EP digital press, has never been a “full size” commercial shop, which limited expansion into vertical markets. After noticing other regional printers exit offset printing completely to focus on digital production, Palm Printing identified a sudden weakness in the market. “We started seeing a significant demand for packaging work,” said Ryan Hedrick, President of Palm Printing. “With few businesses now equipped to produce it, we decided it was an opportunity for us to go after it.”
Needing a 40” press to compete in the packaging space, the company recently purchased a refurbished Speedmaster CX 102 from HEIDELBERG – replacing its older CD 74. It plans to maintain its focus on commercial printing while also expanding into packaging to serve many of its current commercial customers. According to Hedrick, “Medium to large run ‘commercial’ packaging runs is what we’re trying to get into, and we have already been relatively successful in the short period of time since we started production.”
The CX 102’s higher speeds and larger format size have also increased efficiency and lowered production costs for some larger publication work the company typically runs. “The second job we printed with the CX 102, we would never been able to produce, let alone have the opportunity to quote, without a full-sized press,” said Hedrick.
Palm Printing also recently installed a new Easymatrix 106 CS die-cutter and Diana Go 85 folder gluer to complement its CX 102. The Easymatrix and Diana Go are entry-level packaging machines from HEIDELBERG and partner Masterwork and ideal for commercial printers entering packaging production. Prior to installation, the company often outsourced pocket folders and other commercial packaging work to third-party companies. “It’s beneficial we can now bring these products in house and maintain the quality and control as well as shorten lead times,” said Hedrick.
New to packaging, Palm Printing did its “homework” prior to making its new investments. To set the foundation, the company appointed a new Vice President of Packaging with over thirty years of industry experience. The company also sent two of its operators to the “Introduction to Folding Carton Gluing & Die-Cutting” Operator Training Course at HEIDELBERG’s Print Media Performance & Training Center outside of Atlanta. “Two weeks of solid training – I don’t think any other manufacturer offers that kind of a program,” said Hedrick. “The free training definitely played a role in our decision to purchase converting equipment from HEIDELBERG.”
In addition to excellent training, HEIDELBERG designed both the Easymatrix and Diana Go with operator-friendly features like ergonomically arranged control panels and touchscreens that make it easy for operators to navigate the machine interface with intuitive, self-explanatory menus. Hedrick said after a week of additional onsite training, both operators were able to successfully operate the machines despite having no prior experience.
He added, “We’ve only been operational on the packaging equipment for a few months, and we’ve already achieved more in that time than I thought was possible when we first made the decision to get into packaging.”
An Easy Choice, Every Time
When choosing to buy a refurbished press and its new packaging equipment, Palm Printing went directly to HEIDELBERG, its partner of nearly thirty-five years. “We did dabble with some other equipment vendors, but it really didn’t make sense,” said Hedrick, “We can buy from HEIDELBERG and know we have the full backing and support of the HEIDELBERG brand, who will take care of us no matter the issue.”
“There’s such a risk going somewhere different. There could be potential downsides – whether that be poor service or inferior machine quality – that you know you won’t have with HEIDELBERG. Picking HEIDELBERG is an easy choice, every single time.”
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.
