02/26/2026
Scott Meyers, Bindery Manager for Lake Count Press with HEIDELBERG Stahlfolder TH 82.
Sergio Guzman, Plating and Inkroom Manager for Lake County Press with HEIDELBERG Suprasetter 106.
Left to Right: John Farley, Die-cutter Operator and Dan Murphy, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Lake County Press with Easymatrix 106 from HEIDELBERG.
Marietta, Ga. – Lake County Press (LCP), Waukegan, Illinois, recently enhanced its capabilities with the installation of new HEIDELBERG equipment across its production line. Looking to strengthen its position as a comprehensive solutions provider, the family-owned and operated company added a Suprasetter 106 CtP, an Easymatrix 106 CS die-cutter, and a Stahlfolder TH 82 with palamides bander. The new technology replaces several aging systems – boosting the company’s productivity and bolstering its competitive edge.
Upgrades from Start to Finish
Founded in 1970, LCP operated for many years as a high-quality commercial printer. As market conditions evolved, however, the company had to “redefine” itself and its offerings to its clients by diversifying the business. Today, the company offers offset lithography and digital print, branded merchandise, grand-format graphics, and fulfillment, all available on-demand through web-to-print storefronts.
“Our approach starts with listening,” said Dan Murphy, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at LCP. “We sit down with clients, identify their operational pain points and build solutions around those. In many cases, that means developing one centralized, customized portal that enables them to manage and order all of their collateral — regardless of how it’s produced.”
This tailored approach allows LCP’s customers in higher education, healthcare, retail, and marketing to rely on a single, trusted partner rather than outsourcing projects to multiple vendors. To further elevate its position as a full solutions provider, LCP recognized the need to replace several aging pieces of equipment in various stages of production – ensuring its ability to deliver the high level of quality its clients expect.
In prepress, that shift involved replacing chemistry-dependent, time-intensive plates that required processing with more efficient processless plates supplied by HEIDELBERG. To further streamline platemaking, LCP installed a new Suprasetter 106 CtP equipped with Dual Cassette Loader for fully automatic operation with plate cassettes. Together, the move to processless plates and the added automation of the Suprasetter mean plates get to LCP’s two Speedmaster XL 105 presses faster – increasing throughput and shortening turnaround times.
Post-print, LCP also upgraded its finishing capabilities for both commercial and packaging applications. In folding, the company relied on the same two folders for nearly 40 years. After decades of operation, the machines lacked modern automation, operated at lower speeds, and had become increasingly difficult to service.
LCP, evaluating several manufacturers, ultimately selected the Stahlfolder TH 82 to elevate its signature folding operations. Operating at speeds three times faster than its previous equipment, the TH 82 has significantly improved productivity while reducing the labor required in the folding process.
“The new equipment from HEIDELBERG – featuring faster makereadies, higher run speeds, and enhanced automation – is helping us sharpen our competitive edge in the industry today and for the future,” said Murphy.
As the final step in its recent modernization efforts, LCP upgraded to a new Easymatrix 106 CS, replacing a nearly 20-year-old HEIDELBERG die-cutter that would have required substantial reinvestment to stay operational. Capable of producing 7,700 sheets per hour, the Easymatrix’s cut-and-strip capabilities are ideally suited to LCP’s diverse job mix – running a broad range of projects from pocket folders to saddlestitched book covers to folding cartons. The machine’s simple operating concept and short makeready times also allowed LCP to reallocate labor across departments, including training a press operator to run the die-cutter.
According to Murphy, “Our operators appreciate the new equipment and the automation it brings. It streamlines their work while also reflecting LCP’s dedication to investing in both the company and its people.”
A longtime HEIDELBERG customer, LCP chose to make these major new investments with HEIDELBERG because of its confidence in the company as a strategic partner, not just a vendor. “There’s a lot of trust in that partnership – knowing the service will be there and that you have a vendor looking out for your best interests,” Murphy concluded.
About Lake County Press
From humble beginnings in 1970 as a two-color printing operation, Lake County Press (LCP) is a multi-generational business, proudly owned and operated by the Johnson family. With a printing business lineage traceable back to 1876, LCP visionary Ralph Johnson Jr’s mission was to build a company that led the industry in providing its customers with top-quality printed products and services. Over the years, as the world changed, LCP did too by developing its ever-evolving capabilities and service offerings to meet the growing needs and business requirements of the customers it serves.
About HEIDELBERG
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency.
The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China and the USA and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is well-positioned for future growth.
Heather Banis
Director, Marketing & Sales Excellence
Phone: +1 (770) 419-6821
Email*: Heather.Banis@heidelberg.com
02/26/2026
Marietta, Ga. – Lake County Press (LCP), Waukegan, Illinois, recently enhanced its capabilities with the installation of new HEIDELBERG equipment across its production line. Looking to strengthen its position as a comprehensive solutions provider, the family-owned and operated company added a Suprasetter 106 CtP, an Easymatrix 106 CS die-cutter, and a Stahlfolder TH 82 with palamides bander. The new technology replaces several aging systems – boosting the company’s productivity and bolstering its competitive edge.
Upgrades from Start to Finish
Founded in 1970, LCP operated for many years as a high-quality commercial printer. As market conditions evolved, however, the company had to “redefine” itself and its offerings to its clients by diversifying the business. Today, the company offers offset lithography and digital print, branded merchandise, grand-format graphics, and fulfillment, all available on-demand through web-to-print storefronts.
“Our approach starts with listening,” said Dan Murphy, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at LCP. “We sit down with clients, identify their operational pain points and build solutions around those. In many cases, that means developing one centralized, customized portal that enables them to manage and order all of their collateral — regardless of how it’s produced.”
This tailored approach allows LCP’s customers in higher education, healthcare, retail, and marketing to rely on a single, trusted partner rather than outsourcing projects to multiple vendors. To further elevate its position as a full solutions provider, LCP recognized the need to replace several aging pieces of equipment in various stages of production – ensuring its ability to deliver the high level of quality its clients expect.
In prepress, that shift involved replacing chemistry-dependent, time-intensive plates that required processing with more efficient processless plates supplied by HEIDELBERG. To further streamline platemaking, LCP installed a new Suprasetter 106 CtP equipped with Dual Cassette Loader for fully automatic operation with plate cassettes. Together, the move to processless plates and the added automation of the Suprasetter mean plates get to LCP’s two Speedmaster XL 105 presses faster – increasing throughput and shortening turnaround times.
Post-print, LCP also upgraded its finishing capabilities for both commercial and packaging applications. In folding, the company relied on the same two folders for nearly 40 years. After decades of operation, the machines lacked modern automation, operated at lower speeds, and had become increasingly difficult to service.
LCP, evaluating several manufacturers, ultimately selected the Stahlfolder TH 82 to elevate its signature folding operations. Operating at speeds three times faster than its previous equipment, the TH 82 has significantly improved productivity while reducing the labor required in the folding process.
“The new equipment from HEIDELBERG – featuring faster makereadies, higher run speeds, and enhanced automation – is helping us sharpen our competitive edge in the industry today and for the future,” said Murphy.
As the final step in its recent modernization efforts, LCP upgraded to a new Easymatrix 106 CS, replacing a nearly 20-year-old HEIDELBERG die-cutter that would have required substantial reinvestment to stay operational. Capable of producing 7,700 sheets per hour, the Easymatrix’s cut-and-strip capabilities are ideally suited to LCP’s diverse job mix – running a broad range of projects from pocket folders to saddlestitched book covers to folding cartons. The machine’s simple operating concept and short makeready times also allowed LCP to reallocate labor across departments, including training a press operator to run the die-cutter.
According to Murphy, “Our operators appreciate the new equipment and the automation it brings. It streamlines their work while also reflecting LCP’s dedication to investing in both the company and its people.”
A longtime HEIDELBERG customer, LCP chose to make these major new investments with HEIDELBERG because of its confidence in the company as a strategic partner, not just a vendor. “There’s a lot of trust in that partnership – knowing the service will be there and that you have a vendor looking out for your best interests,” Murphy concluded.
About Lake County Press
From humble beginnings in 1970 as a two-color printing operation, Lake County Press (LCP) is a multi-generational business, proudly owned and operated by the Johnson family. With a printing business lineage traceable back to 1876, LCP visionary Ralph Johnson Jr’s mission was to build a company that led the industry in providing its customers with top-quality printed products and services. Over the years, as the world changed, LCP did too by developing its ever-evolving capabilities and service offerings to meet the growing needs and business requirements of the customers it serves.
About HEIDELBERG
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency.
The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China and the USA and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is well-positioned for future growth.
Director, Marketing & Sales Excellence
Phone: +1 (770) 419-6821