Taylor Corp. Becomes First U.S. Heidelberg Anicolor Adopter

KENNESAW, GA—August 30, 2007—Taylor Corporation of North Mankato, MN has become the first U.S. printer to incorporate Heidelberg’s innovative Anicolor technology into its pressroom. The print division was so impressed with this zoneless short inking unit with dampening system that it has installed several Speedmaster SM 52 presses with Anicolor.

“Anicolor does everything Heidelberg said it would do,” raves Craig Krone, Taylor Corporation’s vice president of Information and Technologies for Personalized Business Products. “The 20th sheet off the press is consistent with the last one of the run.”

Anicolor is the world’s first zoneless short inking unit with dampening system available on Heidelberg’s Speedmaster SM 52 line of presses. Recently recognized by PIA/GATF with a 2007 InterTech Technology Award, Anicolor’s consistent ink coverage results in faster makeready times and less waste.

Predominantly a short-run printer with runs of less than 1,000 sheets, Taylor Corporation’s makeready times have gone from 15 minutes down to just seven or eight minutes. The Anicolor presses are typically up to color in 20 – 25 sheets. For a print operation that does several make-readies per hour on each press, that time reduction makes a significant difference in productivity.

“The biggest advantage of Anicolor over traditional presses is color consistency,” says Krone. “When our press operators are at approved color, they don’t even read the color density bars anymore – except in the beginning – because the ink coverage is so consistent. As a result, the operators are more productive.”

Krone says longer runs are where his company saves the most money. Because the color is so consistent, operators aren’t fighting color spikes that usually occur in ink density during the run on their existing presses – in this case competitive press models. He says Anicolor produces nearly flat-line density consistency through the production run.

Anicolor technology addresses other print challenges as well. For example, Taylor Corporation had problems printing certificates because the borders would oftentimes have a ghosting effect. Krone says that is no longer a problem with the Anicolor press.

Taylor Corporation is trying to average five complete production runs an hour, which they have been able to achieve. So far, Krone couldn’t be happier with productivity of the new presses.

“The Anicolor presses are one of the best investments we’ve ever made,” says Krone.

Founded more than 59 years ago, Taylor Corporation manufactures business products such as business cards, stationary, brochures and certificates. It has over 50 locations that serve the U.S. and foreign markets. A Heidelberg customer since the mid 1980s, Taylor Corporation pressrooms are 90 percent Heidelberg presses. And with the success of the Anicolor presses, Krone says its partnership with Heidelberg will continue to strengthen even more.

Krone will be a panelist at the Heidelberg Anicolor Event at this year’s Graph Expo, which is being held in Chicago at McCormick Place on Sept. 9-12. The Anicolor Event will be held on Monday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. at Heidelberg booth #1200 – right in front of the press. Attendees will hear from Krone first-hand about the advantages of Anicolor technology.

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.