A double B2 press order from Potts Print (UK) for delivery this
summer includes a top of the range Speedmaster XL 75 and its latest
sister B2 press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg),
the Speedmaster SX 74 which was on show at drupa in the commercial
printing area of Hall 1. This investment adds to the flexibility
the company can offer its packaging and commercial customers and
enable it to add five more operators to the 162 strong team, as
well as offer opportunities to current trainees.
The Cramlington-based company already offers a B1, B2 and B3
printing facility but with this latest investment it will be able
to handle virtually any B2 job it is offered.
"We have specified the Speedmaster XL 75 with five colours
and a dedicated coater," says Shaun Johnson, managing director.
"With its double diameter impression cylinders this press will
produce the very best quality coated products on stocks of up to
800 microns. The dedicated coater is essential in today's fast
turnround market.
"The Speedmaster SX 74 four-colour will handle uncoated and
spot colour work, taking away some of the general commercial work
to free up our other B1 and B2 presses to handle the longer runs,"
says Mr Johnson.
Production director Brian Watson adds: "Heidelberg presses
are built to last and work hard. The CD 74 which we are replacing
is eight years old and still producing excellent work. We looked at
other options but it is so easy to do business with Heidelberg
because they have the right technology and service. The XL 75 is a
replacement press; the SX 74 is additional."
Potts Print cannot envisage running a press without
spectrophotometric colour control in future. It gives customers
peace of mind that the colour will be reproduced scientifically to
the tightest parameters and from a production perspective will
minimise start up time and waste. "For the first time we are going
for Inpress Control, Heidelberg's most advanced and automated
product. We have seen it in action and wanted this for the XL 75.
It eliminates offline sheet scanning and means that the colour is
measured inside the press on the run, minimising the potential for
deviation from the set colour parameters and waste."
Easy Control, the latest addition to Heidelberg's family of colour
control devices, has been specified for the SX 74. It has the
ability to scan and save Pantone colour data, a great tool for the
corporate market where business branding is key. The company has
colour measurement on all its presses and is planning to undertake
Heidelberg's ISO 12647-2 colour management certification scheme to
underline its commitment to the highest quality standards.
The company is also very environmentally minded and these
investment are made only days after Potts announced that it had
successfully carbon offset its entire operation, becoming the first
carbon balanced publication printing company in the north of
England. It is the company's aim to run both presses 24/7. The XL
75 will operate around the clock from day 1 but the SX 74 will
initially be used for six 12 hour shifts initially. The presses
will be delivered this summer. "This investment is good news for
everyone. Operators are buzzing because in difficult times they see
Potts continuing to invest and move forward. Our customers know
that they will get the quality, colour control, turnaround and
value that they want and rightly expect from us," says Mr Johnson.
Figure 1: The Speedmaster XL 75 press at Potts
completely satisfies the requirements for print speed, fast plate
changes, and print quality.
Figure 2: The Speedmaster SX 74 combines the innovative and
future-oriented technology of the XL range with the successful
Speedmaster SM 74 platform. You benefit from the greater efficiency
and cost-effectiveness that result from shorter makeready and
throughput times and ergonomic operation of the machine.
For further information about the company and image material,
please visit the Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at
www.heidelberg.com.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Silke Wolf
Phone: +49 (0) 6221 92-5061
Fax: +49 (0) 6221 92-5069
E-Mail:
silke.wolf@heidelberg.com