Growth-Minded Printers Invest in Heidelberg Equipment

KENNESAW, GA—June 30, 2010—Heidelberg USA announces the following new CTP, press and postpress product installations by U.S. printing companies:

No News Is Good News Since Parker Printing Installed Heidelberg Suprasetter A75

Parker Printing, Fountain Valley, CA, confirms the addition of a Heidelberg Suprasetter A75 thermal platesetter with integration via Prinect MetaShooter into its existing prepress workflow. According to vice president Michael Hawks, the company had been experiencing mounting technical difficulties and significant unplanned downtime with an existing competitive-model CtP device, prompting its replacement with the Heidelberg machine.

“We used to hear daily complaints from our operators, but I don’t hear anything about our platemaker anymore,” Hawks said. “We’re burning plates faster, our workflow is more efficient, and we’re outputting a more accurate plate with a better image.” The company also has made the switch to Heidelberg Saphira Chemfree plates, burning around 400 per month for use in its two small- and one half-size format presses.

“We shopped around for a new CtP device and became convinced that Heidelberg had the most robust system for what we needed to do,” Hawks said. “It’s been an all-around great experience working with Heidelberg—the people, their expertise, and their precision in technology. We are very impressed.”

Parker Printing is a family owned and operated business based out of Southern California for more than 38 years. In addition to commercial offset and digital printing, in-house graphic design, advertising and fulfillment, the company also offers production, warehousing, inventory management and mailing fulfillment capabilities. The company boasts a growing online presence, and currently operates 10 corporate-branded web-to-print storefront sites that extend its market reach nationwide and overseas. Parker Printing employs a staff of 20 at its 13,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Fountain Valley.

Suprasetter A52/A75: The most compact and successful CtP platesetter in its class.

Atlantic Corp. Eyes Growth, Acquires Varimatrix Die Cutter To Make It Happen

Atlantic Corp. in Tabor City, NC, recently purchased and installed a Heidelberg Varimatrix 105 CS (cutting and stripping) die cutter and a 6-color Speedmaster CD 102 with aqueous coater in a bid to expand the company’s packaging business. According to general manager Jay Gibble, the new Varimatrix relieves the load on the company’s existing die cutter, while adding running speeds from 6500-7500 sph, high throughput and minimal makeready times to Atlantic’s die cutting capacity.

“In order to grow more heavily into packaging, we had to upgrade our existing die cutting capabilities,” Gibble said. “The Varimatrix is a smooth machine that’s extremely productive and user-friendly, and we’re counting on it to help us grow our packaging capabilities.” In addition to the new Speedmaster CD 102, Atlantic’s pressroom also hosts a 6-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfector and a 4-color 29” Speedmaster SM 72.

Established in 1946 and with a staff of 60, Atlantic Corporation’s Tabor City plant serves a client base throughout the Southeast and East Coast. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in Charleston, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., Wilmington, NC, Atlanta, Ga., and the Dominican Republic.

The Varimatrix 105, the entry-level model die cutter for economical die cutting and embossing.

Gillespie Printing Expands, Adds Speedmaster SM 52, Gets More Done in A Day

Gillespie Printing, Inc. of Allentown, Pa. reports that it recently purchased and installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 five-color perfector in conjunction with a plant expansion and relocation from Catasaqua, Pa. to Allentown. The highly automated new press replaces the company’s existing Printmaster PM 52, and adds higher running speeds, faster makereadies and aqueous coating to the company’s capabilities. In terms of productivity, said company president David Hebig, “We’re able to produce an extra two jobs per day.”

Established in 1956 and employing 20, Gillespie Printing serves a regional customer base made up largely of clients in the medical and educational sectors, including four of six colleges in the Lehigh Valley area. The company specializes in high-quality short-run commercially printed products in run lengths averaging 5,000 pieces. A Printmaster QM 46-2, Windmill letterpress, B20 Stahlfolder and POLAR cutter round out Gillespie’s lineup of Heidelberg equipment. The company also uses a Heidelberg Prosetter violet platesetter with Heidelberg Saphira-branded Chemfree violet plates.

The company’s reliance on Heidelberg is based on the overall quality of the machines and “very responsive” service and support, Hebig said.

Speedmaster SM 52, the customized concept for all your requirements.

Qwestcom Cuts Its Teeth on New Speedmaster SM 74 During Campaign Season

Qwestcom Graphics in Cleveland, OH, has installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 5-color perfector with coater. The new press lends the firm added capacity just as the season for political/campaign printing—a niche market for Qwestcom—gets underway. According to company president Joe Krause, the SM 74 also represents a step up in format size from 14x20” to 20x29”, giving the company the ability to fit more up on a sheet and enabling “our $2 million, family-owned operation an opportunity to grow into the machine and assay new markets,” including pocket folders, catalogs and booklets in longer run lengths.

An automated Suprasetter 74 CtP device anchors the company’s Prinect prepress workflow, imaging Saphira Chemfree plates for use in the company’s new SM 74 and existing Printmaster QM 46-2 presses. Elsewhere in the shop, the company also operates a Stahlfolder B20 with continuous feed and a POLAR 78X guillotine cutter.

Qwestcom employs a staff of 13, and has been a satisfied Heidelberg user since its founding in 2001. The company serves a mostly local clientele, but in the political realm has also performed work for campaigns on the national scene.

Offering a wider range of half-format options, the Speedmaster SM 74 makes versatility a concept for success.

Dot Generation Cleans Up Its Act with Suprasetter A52

Dot Generation of Connecticut, Stamford, CT, has installed a Heidelberg Suprasetter A52 thermal platesetter to replace an existing competitive violet machine. The fully automated, top-loading model images around 600 Saphira Chemfree plates per month for use in the company’s Heidelberg 5-color Speedmaster SM 74 press. Said company president Frank Leone, “We wanted to streamline our platemaking by getting rid of the chemistry and simplifying cleanup. Thanks to the automation, the new Suprasetter also runs unattended, which frees up our operators for other tasks.” The full-service commercial printer also operates a POLAR cutter, two Stahlfolders, and a Stitchmaster ST 90 saddlestitcher.

Established in 1983, the $2.5-$3million company employs a staff of 15 and serves a local clientele. The longtime Heidelberg customer professes a confidence in Heidelberg equipment, which Leone says is “easy to use, yet built to last.”

Outstanding performance combined with a space-saving footprint: Suprasetter A52.

Postpress Automation Could Mark the Start of a Trend at HBP, Inc.

HBP, Inc., Hagerstown, MD, recently completed a second round of training on a Heidelberg Stahlfolder TH-82 three-station buckle-plate folder with stream feeder and delivery and gatefold attachment. According to bindery manager Chris Sellers, the highly automated folder has accelerated makereadies and running times in the company bindery, also home to a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 450 saddlestitcher and two POLAR cutters. The new Stahlfolder is the only automated folder on the premises at the present time, Sellers said, adding, “Once management saw what the automated ST 450 could do, they decided to go with an automated folder.”

HBP is a general commercial printer providing fulfillment, warehouse, mailing, and digital printing services to a primarily national customer base, although the company also ships products internationally. The company’s pressroom hosts three Heidelberg presses, including a 6-color Speedmaster SM 102, a 4-color Speedmaster SM 102, and a 5-color Printmaster PM 52. Founded in 1904, the company currently employs a staff of 110.

Efficient automation, ergonomic operation. The Stahlfolder TH-82 folder.