Rider Dickerson Positions Itself for a New Century of Growth with Heidelberg’s Speedmaster XL 105

Chicago-area Printer Focuses on High-tech Solutions to Meet Customer Demands

KENNESAW, GA—March 15, 2007 – After more than 100 years in business, Rider Dickerson is carving out a high-tech future with the installation of a Heidelberg 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with coater, the most technologically advanced and productive 40-inch press on the market. The added capacity and speed of the new press comes at a critical time for the company, which recently expanded into a new 85,000-square foot facility in Bellwood, Ill.

“The XL 105 is a great addition to our larger shop and enables us to expand our capabilities as we expand our space,” said Rider Dickerson President and CEO Bill Barta. “This press can handle the bread and butter of our business, our general commercial print work, while opening new doors for us to look at markets like packaging in the future.”

The XL 105’s speed, efficiency and quality fit with the company’s secret to success and longevity: lean operations and a strong focus on customer needs.

“The timeframes of our customers’ jobs are getting shorter, so one of the challenges we face is increasing our through-put,” Barta said. “With real production speeds of 18,000 sph and a paper format of 75 x 105 cm (29.53 x 41.34 in), the XL 105 is the fastest 40-inch press that I’ve seen on the market. It also has the highest level of quality and efficiency.”

In fact, Barta estimates the XL 105 can handle the workload of his two older six-color 40-inch presses with coater. That is due, in part, to the Autoplate Advanced with its simple, register-accurate plate changing. Extensive presetting functions in combination with fast and very efficient parallel wash-up processes dramatically reduce make-ready times. Barta also credits the new DryStar 3000 dryers, which are 30 percent more powerful and supply superior results, even at maximum press speeds. “The jobs are bone dry,” said Barta. “As soon as they come off the press, sheets are ready to back up or go to the bindery.”

In addition to being more efficient, the XL 105 has increased versatility. It can print on a wide range of substrates, from onion skin to 40-point cardboard and point-of-purchase materials. It also is the ideal production tool for label and packaging printers handling large volumes of multiple-up work.

“We’re planning to increase our packaging business since that is one of the key applications for this press,” said Barta. “It also will help us to better serve our current clients, and that goes back to our philosophy of putting customer needs first.”

To ensure Rider Dickerson maximizes its investment, it takes advantage of Heidelberg’s systemservice 36plus service program. This comprehensive service package combines intelligent support services, an annual Heidelberg inspection including maintenance, and full coverage of all repair services and parts for 36 months. Barta describes this type of service as a competitive differentiator for Heidelberg.

“Heidelberg can log onto our press remotely to troubleshoot minor blips,” said Barta. “That’s a great feature. It means we don’t have to try to reach a technician, schedule them to come out and then wait. It saves so much time.”

Rider Dickerson is a general commercial printer founded in 1903. Its 65 employees work with a variety of industries, including education, advertising and graphic design, as well as union and corporate accounts. The shop produces brochures, sales and marketing collateral, annual reports and point-of-purchase materials. In March 2007, the company moved from Chicago’s famed Printer’s Row to a new facility in Bellwood, Ill. With all functions on one floor, Barta says the printer now enjoys a more efficient workflow. Rider Dickerson has been a Heidelberg customer since 1990. It has grown into an all-Heidelberg shop, with the exception of one high-speed envelope press. The shop’s Heidelberg equipment includes a 40-inch Speedmaster 102 CD with coater and UV capabilities and a 2-color and 4-color Printmaster GTO.

About 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.