Lake County Press Upgrades with HEIDELBERG Solutions

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.

Scott Meyers, bindery manager for Lake County Press with HEIDELBERG Stahlfolder TH 82.

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.”

Sergio Guzman, plating and inkroom manager for Lake County Press with HEIDELBERG Suprasetter 106.

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.

From left: John Farley, die-cutter operator and Dan Murphy, senior vice president of manufacturing for Lake County Press with Easymatrix 106 from HEIDELBERG.

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.

Source: Heidelberg

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.