The Quickmaster DI 46-4 Pro from Heidelberg

Cost-effective printing of short color runs confirmed by CAP Venture study

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is taking a successful concept a stage further with its new Quickmaster DI Pro unveiled at Print01 in Chicago. The third generation of A3 digital offset presses is extremely flexible and user-friendly and delivers excellent quality. The latest CAP Venture study also confirms that Quickmaster DI customers can print very cost-effectively with an average gross return of 45 percent. This makes the Quickmaster DI Pro ideal for use in the growing short run color market.

Direct Imaging (DI) forms the link between offset and digital printing and enables short color runs from 300 sheets upwards to be printed in high offset quality. "This makes the Quickmaster DI Pro interesting to a number of different users. Traditional printshops can expand their portfolio to include print-on-demand and can print short runs cost-effectively. It allows digital printers to move into offset, prepress houses can profit from their experience of data handling and advertising agencies can establish themselves as full-service providers with the QM DI Pro," explains Marketing Director Holger Reichardt.

Heidelberg is the leading DI supplier with over ten years' experience of DI technology. "With the introduction of the new DI Pro, the company has enhanced its successful Quickmaster DI series (nearly 1,700 presses installed worldwide) in a way which benefits its customers. The direct transfer of digital data from the prepress for imaging in the press and the high level of automation meet today's market requirements", states Dr. Klaus Spiegel, Director at Heidelberg and Head of the Sheetfed Solution Center. The press also follows the trend for increased digitization of the workflow and meets the demand for flexibility, shorter run times, high quality and user friendliness.

Average gross return of 45 percent
The latest study by CAP Ventures confirms the results of a previous study in 1999 - Quickmaster DI customers are significantly more successful than the industry average. According to the study, Quickmaster DI customers in the USA report an average gross return of 45 percent. This puts them 15 percent up on the profit leaders in the industry and no less than 19 percent ahead of the industry average. These figures were calculated by the PIA (Printing Industries of America). Although the economic climate today represents a far greater challenge than it did three years ago, the yield advantage of the Quickmaster DI has risen a further 3.6 percent since 1999, while the industry average has stagnated over this same period. As the results of the study show, the Quickmaster DI is even cost-effective for short runs, making it ideal for the growing short run color market. "The CAP Venture study is an important barometer for the industry and we are very excited about our customers' success. The Quickmaster DI has once again proved its worth as a top-quality press that companies can rely on to meet their customers' needs and at the same time achieve profits that are well above average", states Dr. Spiegel.

Quickmaster DI Pro - Precision and perfection
The new control console of the Quickmaster DI Pro is based on the successful Heidelberg CP2000 concept. It provides an ergonomic workspace and facilitates press operation. The new powerful stream feeder ensures extremely accurate feed, allowing printing of a fifth or sixth color. What's more, Heidelberg now uses an 80 l/cm screen with Delta Technology 7.0 at 1,270 dpi which provides superb print quality. The Quickmaster DI Pro also supports a whole range of printing stock and formats, from 0.04 mm-thick label printing paper up to 0.30 mm-thick chromo board. Sizes of 46 x 34 centimeter right down to the smallest format 8.9 x 14 centimeter can be printed effortlessly, as can envelopes. The new Quickmaster DI Pro is highly versatile with very short makeready times of under ten minutes for the cost-effective production of runs from 300 to 5,000 sheets.

First customers report 40 percent higher productivity
For Jürgen Högerl, Managing Director of Colorline (Germany), the new Quickmaster DI Pro means "a clear increase in quality and productivity." Peter Gissler, owner of Gissler Druck AG (Switzerland) says: "The press was very fast to put into production and we are achieving outstanding print results. This gives us a crucial competitive advantage, enabling us to meet ever shorter deadlines." At the Taylor Corporation (USA), the QM DI Pro is regarded as an "excellent addition" to the company's existing equipment. Craig E. Krone, Information Technology Director, needs no persuading: "The new innovative features are ideally suited to the needs of the market".

The Quickmaster DI Pro offers a wide range of options such as the DryStar Ink compact infrared dryer which significantly speeds up the finishing stage. Heidelberg also offers comprehensive marketing and service support and advice beyond the installation stage.

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The new Quickmaster DI 46 Pro is extremely flexible and user-friendly and delivers excellent quality. The latest CAP Venture study also confirms that Quickmaster DI customers can print very cost-effectively with an average gross return of 45 percent.

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 67
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com