Leading U.S. Quick Print Franchiser Endorses Reliability and Productivity of Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46

AlphaGraphics chooses Printmaster QM 46 as standard press in their franchise start-up package

Leading businesses across the U.S. and around the globe look to AlphaGraphics as their one-stop source for world-class designing, copying, printing and digital document management. AlphaGraphics looks to Heidelberg, and the Printmaster QM 46, to help deliver on their mission of enabling their customers to easily and effectively communicate in any publishing medium-anywhere in the world, anytime. Well-known in the industry, Heidelberg's Printmaster QM 46 is a proven performer for the franchise printer.

AlphaGraphics has a long-standing relationship with Heidelberg. They first experienced the reliability and productivity of the earlier Quickmaster
QM 46 in 1995. The company realized the impact the Quickmaster QM 46 could have on their business and saw the opportunity to present themselves as leader by utilizing the machine.

Initially, 50 percent of AlphaGraphics franchisees installed the Printmaster QM 46 and 50 percent used a competitive product. Through the strong performance and reliability of the QM 46, Heidelberg convinced AlphaGraphics that a refurbished QM 46 is better than a competitor's new machine.

The result? Due to the performance demonstrated at many franchisees, now well over 170 QM 46 presses have been installed in AlphaGraphics franchise stores. The Printmaster QM 46, either new or refurbished, is now the machine included in the franchiser's start-up package. Combined with Heidelberg's service and support, the QM 46 is a valuable tool for AlphaGraphics franchisees.

"Since 1995, AlphaGraphics franchisees have taken advantage of the QM 46-2's advanced capabilities to broaden their product offering to their customers. The high output quality and ease of use has made this press one of the most productive pieces of equipment that I have worked with in my 13 years with the company."

Says Robert Morton, Director of Offset Printing for AlphaGraphics. AlphaGraphics operates 243 locations in the domestic United States and 42 locations internationally.

"Heidelberg is very pleased to be associated with a fine company like AlphaGraphics," says Bernd Blumberg, director, product management, Heidelberg USA. "The Printmaster QM 46 was designed to meet the needs of businesses like AlphaGraphics. We continually look to them and all of our other customers for feedback so we can make continuous improvements to the product's performance. Combined with other Heidelberg solutions, the Printmaster QM 46 meets the needs of franchise printers like AlphaGraphics."

About the Printmaster QM 46
Heidelberg's Printmaster QM 46 delivers Heidelberg quality, fast running speeds and peerless ease of use. The Printmaster QM 46 features programmable controls, laser slit ink keys, automated blanket wash-up, on-the-fly register adjustments, speedy make-ready and Autoplate, which keep the Printmaster QM 46 producing profitably shift after shift.

Available in one- and two-color models, the Printmaster QM 46 prints sheet sizes up to 13 3/8 x 18 1/8 inches, on stocks ranging from onionskin to 12 pt., at up to 10,000 impressions per hour.

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Investor Relations
Dirk Kaliebe
Tel: +49 (0)6221 92 60 20
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 60 61
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