Heidelberg Prepress, Press, Postpress and Workflow Solutions Keep Businesses Humming
Tepel Brothers Credits Speedmaster XL 105 UV with Business Growth
Tepel Brothers Printing, Troy, Mich. liked its first Heidelberg 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 so well, it purchased another just six months later. The company's original XL, a 6-color conventional model installed in April 2008, now shares the spotlight at Tepel with a 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with full interdeck UV, acquired the following October. According to company president Jim Tepel, the new XL is already 50 percent more productive than the two-year-old Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102 UV it replaced, thanks to higher runs speeds, faster makereadies, ease-of-use and print predictability - even accounting for the fact that the company runs a large volume of UV printed plastic materials and other nonstandard substrates on the new press. These features, combined with the Heidelberg Image Control color management and Ink Optimization, substantially increase the company's already formidable production capabilities.
"We wanted to expand our horizons, and that is exactly what we've done," Tepel said. "We are one of just a few printers in southeast Michigan with the ability to print a wide range of specialty work - static cling, signage and floor decals, etc. - not to mention special effects like strike-through UV with reticulating varnish. As a result, we've grown our business substantially, expanding the types of work we do for existing clients and attracting new clients from as far away as Chicago and Indianapolis."
What Tepel likes best about the XL 105 is its predictability: "To know I can set up the most difficult job, hang the plate, and get a saleable sheet on the first pull with no tweaking, usually within 125 sheets," he said. "Not only is the XL 105 a tremendous waste saver, once we derive a perfect sheet, we can proceed to run it at 18,000 sheets per hour. The press has exceeded my expectations in so many ways." As for the XL 105's larger sheet size, "We utilize it every chance we get - at least once a week," Tepel said. With the able assistance of its XL 105s, the company also is developing its packaging business, "a great little growth area" that now represents about 10 percent of its job mix.
Founded by Jim and Harriet Tepel in 1989, Tepel Brothers Printing employs a staff of 110. The company specializes in high-impact work on plastic and synthetics for a diverse client base that includes automobile and greeting card manufacturers, casinos, financial concerns and magazine publishers. In addition to the two Speedmaster XL 105s, the company's pressroom is home to a 13 x 19" Heidelberg Printmaster two-color press, a 14x201/2" Heidelberg 2-color perfector, a 2-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 perfector, and a 6-color Speedmaster SM 74 perfector with in-line coater. Its bindery holds an assortment of Heidelberg POLAR programmable paper cutters, Stahlfolders, an ST 270 saddlestitcher and a 20x28" Heidelberg die cutter.
Tepel credits the new press with helping his company to build "a bigger, better business, even in this economic climate. The XL 105 was a marvelous investment that has enabled us to do what we do as efficiently and reliably as possible," he said. "We consider it a game-changing press and a huge part of our continued growth."
Curious about the ultra-high-performance, ultra-productive Speedmaster XL 105? Click here
Modern Litho-Print Co. in Jefferson City, Mo. is the proud owner of a new Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 450 6-pocket saddlestitcher with two cover feeders. According to President Darrell Moore, the company prizes the ST 450 for its makeready and running speed, flexibility and configurability, the better to handle the multiple daily setups and changeovers that typify Modern Litho's short-run (<10,000) business model. "We are just so pleased with that stitcher," said Moore. "The productivity of the machine has exceeded all our expectations." Modern Litho's bindery also hosts a 28x40" Stahl buckle-plate folder with automated gatefold attachment, as well as a programmable POLAR 137 XT cutter with jogger and Transomat stacker.
Distinguished by its record of never having had a layoff in more than 72 years of doing business, Modern Litho-Print is a Missouri-certified, woman-owned business that performs both publication and general commercial printing for associations and nonprofit organizations in more than 40 states. For the past nine years, the company has turned to Heidelberg for its equipment needs, previously installing a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 6-color press, a Speedmaster SM 52 5-color press, and a pair of Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 4-color perfecting presses. Most recently, the company installed a 5-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 press, a business decision Moore terms "the best we ever made."
Modern Litho's longtime association with Heidelberg has enabled Moore to sleep soundly at night. "They've been a trusted long-term partner for our business and I believe our success has been due in part to what they bring to the table."
Click here for more information about the Stitchmaster ST 450 saddlestitcher.
To accommodate growth in volume and facilitate customer
needs, Image Pressworks, Inc., Portland, Ore. installed a 5-color
Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 late last year. Since then, the
company has had ample opportunity to experience a handsome return
on its investment in terms of both the quality and consistency of
its printing. "The XL 105 had the larger format, unmatched
quality and consistency, the ability to accommodate longer runs
at faster speeds - everything we needed to provide our customers
with top-quality printing. In fact, said Production Manager Chris
Chase, "The further we push the XL 105, the better it performs. A
lot of presses aren't built to run at 18,000 sph, but the XL 105
lives up to its advance billing. That means we can live up to
ours and be the perfectionists our customers expect us to be."
Image Pressworks, which also operates a Heidelberg
Speedmaster CD 74, has taken some pains, "to get both of our
Heidelberg presses on the same page," Chase explained, upgrading
the CD 74 with Prinect Axis Control to achieve closed-loop color
control and quality assurance comparable to the XL 105. A
Suprasetter 105 computer-to-plate system with Prinect workflow,
installed along with the XL 105, provides efficient, reliable
plate production with no degradation of quality when different
components of the same job, e.g., text and covers, are run on
different presses. Heidelberg Saphira aluminum thermal plates and
assorted Saphira pressroom consumables provide even greater
consistency and high-quality performance.
Although the company describes itself as a general
commercial printer, Image Pressworks actually "dabbles in
everything," Chase said, including pharmaceutical printing and
folding. Its extensive bindery includes a 36" POLAR 115 cutter,
29" KAMA die cutter, Stitchmaster ST 90 8-pocket saddlestitcher
with cover feeder, as well as a pair of Stahlfolder Ti 36
pharmaceutical folders. "We feel strongly that the more we can do
in-house, the better service we can offer our customers," Chase
said. "That 'one phone call' philosophy is also one of the
reasons we partner up with Heidelberg. With Systemservice36 on
the new XL and web-based remote service on the CD, expert
technical help is always and immediately available to us, as is
fast, knowledgeable on-site service when we need it."
Thirty-year-old Image Pressworks serves a Pacific Northwest
regional clientele. The company employs a staff of 30.
For more about the versatile, high-performance Speedmaster
XL 105,
click here.
To learn more about the Suprasetter 105, click here
Forty-year-old Milwaukee-based HM Graphics, Inc. recently
replaced a 16-year-old UV double-coating machine with a new
Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102 convertible UV press. The company,
whose reputation for quality and comprehensive service is
well-established, installed the first 40" UV double coating press
in the U.S. in 1992, and has been building its UV expertise into
a formidable specialty ever since. The company gets an able
assist from a powerful pressroom lineup that also includes a pair
of Heidelberg 6-color Speedmaster SM 102 single coaters with
in-line aqueous, a 2-color Heidelberg TOK and two Heidelberg
Printmaster QM 46 2-color presses.
"Whenever we replace a press, we look to get our money back
within four years," said company president Jim Sandstrom. He
explains that this calculation is based on productivity gains the
company achieves with the new press and the fact that "our last
two installations have exceeded these expectations." That said,
the new Speedmaster CD 102 "is at least 50 percent more
productive as the older machine, enabling us to be more
competitive in this soft market. The print quality also is
significantly better," Sandstrom said. He also praises the CD
102's faster makereadies and ability to change over quickly from
conventional to UV operation.
Family owned and managed since 1969, and with 200
employees, HM Graphics serves a national client base of Fortune
500 companies, global advertising agencies and other businesses
large and small "with a passion for perfection." The company
performs all prepress, printing, postpress/finishing and direct
mail, warehousing and fulfillment functions in-house under strict
quality control conditions. "With Heidelberg, we know we're
getting an exceptionally reliable machine that prints beautifully
and wears well, year in and year out," Sandstrom said.
"Heidelberg sets the industry standard for excellence."
For a profile of the Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102,
click here.
Hawaii Department of Education Builds Better Bottom Line with
Heidelberg
Facing budget constraints, the Hawaii State Department of
Education (DOE) recently instructed its various departments to
funnel the majority of their printing work to the DOE's
35-year-old in-plant reprographics operation rather than
outsource it. The challenge was to upgrade the shop's existing
capabilities to accommodate an influx of work from more than 250
public schools across all seven Hawaiian Islands, including an
increased demand for more color printing. Anticipating the
increased workload, the DOE shrewdly replaced an aging
competitive single-color press with a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM
74-two-color perfector. Now, said Administrator Jason Seto,
"I can't see how we did without a perfecting press. We
already are showing that we can do many more jobs in-house, which
makes for a better bottom line for the entire Department."
The automated features of the new Speedmaster 74 have
earned the enthusiastic unqualified approval of Seto and his
staff of 16. "It's a pleasure to run. Program controlled wash-up
and automatic plate changing mean no more wrenches or manual
adjustment, the ease of switching from straight 2-color printing
to perfecting is amazing, and the print quality is fantastic,"
Seto said. "We run full solid bleeds on 20x26" sheets with no
streaking or ghosting, and the register is dead accurate. We all
love it." The shop continues to "run the heck" out of its
existing Heidelberg GTO and QM 46 single-color presses, and
utilizes Saphira blankets, packing materials, ink foils, rollers,
wash-up cloths and other consumables, Seto adds.
Because postpress operations were not exempt from the DOE
edict to limit outsourcing, Seto's department also purchased a
Stahlfolder B20 with right-angle attachment and Eurobind 600
hotmelt machine to handle the bulk of its finishing needs. "We no
longer have to outsource our perfect binding," Seto said," and
we've dramatically reduced the amount of GBC binding we used to
do. The results are much more durable and professional looking,"
he said.
Having worked previously in the commercial sector, Seto and
his staff are well acquainted with Heidelberg's reputation for
quality, service and a "no baloney" approach to its customers.
"The service people are knowledgeable and responsive, and I can
get parts when I need them," Seto said. "That's why we prefer
Heidelberg, and why we will continue to work with them."
Ready to raise your game? Check out the
Speedmaster SM 74
Powell Offset Services Installs 'Marvelous' Suprasetter
105
Plate remakes are a thing of the past for Powell Offset
Services, Austin, Texas, since the company installed a Heidelberg
Suprasetter 105 CtP device. The new thermal device, which anchors
a Heidelberg Prinect Prepress Manager prepress workflow, replaces
an existing violet platesetter. According to company president
Bobby Powell, it has vastly improved not only the company's
platemaking capability, but also the quality and consistency of
its printed work. "The Suprasetter is absolutely marvelous,"
Powell said. "The plates hold color and run clean - every plate
is good - and I know my prepress operator enjoys not having to
clean out the processor. This is trouble-free printing the way it
ought to be."
The new Suprasetter feeds Heidelberg Saphira Chem-free
aluminum plates to all of Powell Offset's Heidelberg presses: a
5-color Speedmaster SM 52 with coater, a 4-color Speedmaster SM
74 perfector, and a 6-color Speedmaster SM 102 perfector with
coater. They are also a supplier of imaged plates to other shops
in the area with Heidelberg presses. About 50 percent of the
company's job mix represents specialty printing that demands the
kind of dot-for-dot precision the Suprasetter 105 is well
equipped to provide. "It has to do with the way it develops the
dots and the way the dot adheres to the plate," Powell explains,
"We are now very confident about accuracy because this system
gives us better dot size. That is a huge statement when dealing
with density-sensitive images."
In business since 1955 and with 10 employees, family run
Powell Offset has been a 'Heidelberg shop' since the beginning.
Its 6-color, 40" Speedmaster press produces about one-half
million specialty-printed sheets per month, filling in with other
commercial printing when the schedule permits. The company sticks
with Heidelberg as its primary prepress and pressroom supplier,
based on the superior service it receives when problems occur, as
well as on the quality and reliability of Heidelberg hardware and
software. "The equipment works the way it's supposed to, that's
the bottom line," Powell said. "Heidelberg is a partner we
trust."
Need plates now?
Click here
Edward Enterprises Marks Golden Anniversary with XL 75
Purchase
Edward Enterprises, Honolulu, Hawaii, always had two 40"
presses in the shop, but broke with tradition last fall by
replacing one of its two full-size presses with a 6-color, 29"
Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 perfecting press. "Going to a
smaller format was a gamble at the time," said President Mark
Ibara. "We weren't sure if we were doing the right thing. Now I
can't imagine what would have happened if we hadn't made that
decision. Looking back, two 40" presses would have been a
handicap in this market. Instead, we've not only upgraded and
added capacity, but we've been able to retain market share." In
addition, he said, the "super-efficient" new Speedmaster SM 75
uses 10 percent less in raw materials and only one-half the
energy to do the same amount of work as the press it replaced,
while providing the company with added speed, automation and
flexibility. The press is so easy to run, Ibara said, that "It
allowed our crews to reach a very high level of productivity
within a very short time." The company continues to operate a
6-color CD 102 with hybrid UV, as well as a 2-color Speedmaster
SM 52. It also chooses Heidelberg Saphira pressroom consumables,
including blankets, press powder and coatings.
Employee-owned Edward Enterprises provides quality
commercial printing services to a local client base made up of
advertising agencies and graphic design firms. The company, which
celebrates its 50th anniversary in business this year, recently
moved into a new, greener and more efficient facility, where
there's no room for less-than reliable equipment. "No matter how
punishing the workload, we just can't worry about our equipment.
It's the nature of the business we're in; we depend on those
presses and we cannot compromise on their durability. We've
operated Heidelberg presses for decades, and they run and run and
then run some more. When the stakes are high, you chose the best,
and that's Heidelberg."
Takes a licking and keeps on ticking: the
Speedmaster XL 75
ABOX Packaging Supports Growth with Investment
ABOX Packaging Company in Kaufman, Texas has replaced an
aging off-line blanking system with a Heidelberg Dymatrix CSB
(cutting/stripping/blanking) die cutter. The move saves time
previously spent transporting materials to and from the company's
existing die cutters, and has increased the company's
productivity more than 25 percent over a comparable piece of
machinery. "We pick our targets carefully and seek out the best
long-term investments we can find," said Keith Thompson, company
president. "We spent more than a year researching the new
Dymatrix and felt it was the most substantial piece of equipment
available for the money."
Since the installation last November, the new Dymatrix has
performed admirably, Thompson said, citing the die cutter's fast
makereadies, photo-eye registration, horizontal sheet path,
automatic pallet feeding, and minimal downtime. "It's our first
fully automated blanking tool," he adds. "The user-friendliness
is outstanding." In addition, he said, "Because Heidelberg
brought the right crew in beforehand, our need for training was
minimal. We knew exactly what to expect."
ABOX Packaging is an independent manufacturer of custom
folding cartons for a wide array of industries including medical,
food packaging, and office products. The company runs primarily
12- to 36-point paperboard stock, as well as a large volume of
e-flute corrugated. According to Thompson, this is one of the
reasons it purchased the versatile Heidelberg Dymatrix, which
easily handles a broad spectrum of paperboard up to 2,000 gsm
(410 lb/1000 sq ft) and 4mm (0.157 in) corrugated.
ABOX Packaging also has been enjoying an extended period of
growth, supported by a forward-thinking investment strategy, in
which Heidelberg is likely to play a continuing role. Since
Thompson and his wife purchased the company in 2003, employment
there has risen from 50 to 120, while annual sales have increased
threefold over the same period. The company achieved a 9 percent
growth in 2008, and is on track to show 12 percent growth this
year.
Click here to get acquainted with
Heidelberg's "gentle giant."
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. Heidelberg is most active within the major OECD industrial regions and is expanding its involvement within growing markets such as Asia and Eastern Europe. With development and production sites in six countries and some 250 sales offices worldwide, the Company offers services to more than 200,000 customers around the globe. Heidelberg generates 85 percent of global sales through company-owned sales offices and above 85 percent outside of Germany. In fiscal year 2007/2008, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 3.670 billion referring to the divisions Press, Postpress and Financial Services as well as a net profit of Euro 142 million. As of March 31, 2008, the Group employed 19,596 staff worldwide.
Media contact:
Jean-Marie Hershey
540.297.3556
jmh@writehandcom.com
