Printing Operations Grow with Heidelberg Press and Workflow Products

Lenoir Community College Invests in Students’ Futures with Printmaster QM 46 Install

The Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology program at Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC, recently installed a 2-color Printmaster QM 46 from Heidelberg in its student training lab. The program aims to prepare its graduates for well-paying jobs in the local printing community. According to department chairman Dwight Downie, firms in the area typically trust the Heidelberg brand and use Heidelberg small-format equipment, making it more likely than not that graduates will be required to operate a Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46 when and where they land a job.

“It makes sense to offer our students training on the equipment they’ll be asked to use when they join the workforce,” Downie said. “Eventually, we’d like to replace all of our small duplicators with Heidelberg QM 46 presses.”

The QM 46 brings a new level of technological sophistication to Lenoir’s classroom printing lab, Downie said, citing semi-automated features including AutoPlate plate-hanging, electronic sheet monitoring, and alcohol-free continuous dampening system. For now, he added, the focus is on providing upcoming graduates with as much training time on the new press as possible.

Of the 4500 students currently enrolled at Lenoir Community College, approximately 62 are full-time Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology majors. Founded in 1978, the program also functions as the college printing facility where student technical assistants help out as part of a work-study program.