Printing Facility

Vibrant colors true to the original on a top-class substrate make for high-quality print products. However, it is not always easy to achieve the required quality given the many different factors that impact on the print result. In order to ensure stable and reproducible print quality, users need to be able to identify and monitor each of these factors.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG opened its new World Logistics Center (WLC) at its Wiesloch-Walldorf site exactly ten years ago, thereby laying the foundation for a globally integrated logistics network. It was followed by further logistics centers in the U.S. (2004), Japan (2007), and most recently Hong Kong (2008). Around 200,000 Heidelberg customers around the globe now benefit from fast delivery of service parts and consumables. "Particularly in times of crisis, good machine availability, reliable quality, and on-time delivery are key to a printshop's survival," explains Bernhard Steinel, Senior Vice President Systemservice for Heidelberg worldwide.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is expanding the entry-level segment for thermal printing plate production with high-performance versions for the Suprasetter A52 and Suprasetter A75. With this new generation, Suprasetter customers in the small and medium format sector will be able to increase productivity by up to 58 percent depending on the machine configuration.

The "Prinect Press Center" control station from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has won the InterTech Award 2009 from Printing Industries of America (PIA). The judges were particularly impressed by the Intellistart function and integrated wallscreen.

(Combined with Suprasetter technology, the new lenticular workflow from Heidelberg delivers first-class results, short makeready times, and less waste during the production of lenticular applications)

Print shops can really set themselves apart from the competition by printing striking lenticular images. However, high-quality lenticular prints are virtually impossible to achieve without the right tools and the necessary know-how. Even the smallest inaccuracies during print preparation can destroy the desired effect. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is now making it easier for users of its print shop workflow Prinect and CtP Suprasetter technology to carry out top-class lenticular printing.

(Customer dialog is first priority for Heidelberg – here on the XL 162)

When print jobs are being costed, created, printed, die cut, and glued in the Print Media Center (PMC), guests visiting the center are always “right in the thick of the action”. Since Hall 11 of the Wiesloch-Walldorf site of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) started hosting customer demonstrations in November 2008, around 600 guests from all corners of the globe have already had the chance to experience Heidelberg solutions for packaging and label printing live. With an area of over 4,000 square meters, the PMC is the largest competence center of its kind in the world. It presents a production environment with three complete production lines including integrated workflow, and each demonstration can be tailored to suit the specific needs and interests of the guests.

The quartet is now complete. Based in Neuenstein in the Swabian region of Germany, Hepack Druck und Verpackung GmbH recently put into operation its fourth die cutter from the Dymatrix family manufactured by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). The Dymatrix 106 CS puts the finishing touches to postpress operations at the packaging print company and joins the three other Heidelberg die cutters already in situ. Two Dymatrix 106 CSB and one Dymatrix 142 CSB had already been installed between 2004 and 2009. Hepack specializes in the mass production of packaging, primarily for the food industry.

(Peter Heim, Managing Director of Hepack Druck und Verpackung GmbH, now uses four die cutters from the Dymatrix family from Heidelberg in his company's production operations. He is particularly impressed by the machines' extremely quiet operation and high die cutting quality)

(CombiStar Pro is used for controlling the press' temperature and supplying it with dampening solution. Depending on the climatic conditions, the system can cut annual energy consumption by up to 50 percent)

In times of climate change, increasing CO2 emissions and rising electricity costs, the energy consumption of a press is becoming an increasingly important factor. Although energy costs only account for between two and three percent of the production costs of a print job, the connected load of a new press scares off many print shops.

(Dieter Kirchner and photographer Dieter Appelt (in the foreground) admire a print produced on a new large-format Heidelberg press using HDSP for a work entitled "Earth - Tableau". The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg is hosting a photographic exhibition from July 20-24.)

High Definition Skia Photography (HDSP) is the name of the new, revolutionary printing process that delivers photo prints of unprecedented quality on conventional offset paper and reproduces even the finest textures and details. This new technology, which works directly from the negative - the skiagraphic image - produces photographs without the need for a darkroom.

Eukerdruck GmbH & Co KG in Marburg, Germany, has taken delivery of the 30th CombiStar Pro energy-saving combination unit.

The system was successfully put into operation at the company on the new Speedmaster XL 105-8 P. Just one year after market launch, demand has exceeded the expectations of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and, from fall of this year, the unit will be available worldwide.

U.S. printshop K & D Graphics in Orange, California, has been using one of the world's longest sheetfed offset presses since the end of last year.

The Speedmaster XL 105-6+LYY-P-6+L (UV) with CutStar from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is the first Speedmaster XL 105 that can print and coat on both sides in a single pass. Together with two drying units and the CutStar sheeter, the press is almost 38 meters (125 feet) long.

At the center of this is a five-color Speedmaster XL 145 with coating unit and a Suprasetter 145. This is the first large-format solution from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) for the Swiss market.

(Gathering crowds of visitors at Heidelberg’s show booth on the occasion of China Print in Beijing)

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is exhibiting a comprehensive range of solutions covering the entire added value chain of sheetfed offset printing at China Print 2009, which is taking place in Beijing from May 12-16. Heidelberg is presenting integrated solutions for commercial as well as packaging printing, including various locally manufactured exhibits, on an area of over 3,500 square meters (over 37,000 square feet).

(The visitors were able to learn more about the business opportunities in the area of folding carton production)

Recently, more than 140 customers from 21 countries took up the invitation from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) to attend the Print Media Center Packaging Days in Hall 11 at the Wiesloch-Walldorf plant. A number of fully integrated production lines incorporating prepress, press, and postpress equipment provided the international audience with impressive proof of the expertise Heidelberg has in folding carton production. The different production lines feature the Speedmaster presses XL 75, XL 105 and XL 162, each with appropriate prepress and postpress equipment. Postpress is particularly important in packaging applications. And this is why the integrated production demonstrations at the Print Media Center in Wiesloch-Walldorf include die cutters and folder gluers in various configurations and with different levels of automation providing different production capacities.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) now offers the ideal solution for keeping dampening solutions clean for longer periods - with the FilterStar and FilterStar Compact filtration systems. FilterStar Compact is designed for the Speedmaster SM 52, SM 74 and XL 75, while FilterStar is employed in the larger presses. Each of these systems cleans the dampening solution continuously and protects it against the coarse impurities in the form of ink and paper particles. FilterStar Compact extends the service life of dampening solutions from two to twelve weeks, depending on the alcohol content, and the print spectrum to between four and six months. FilterStar even extends this period to between six and twelve months. The savings generated by the elimination of non-productive dampening solution changes and lower disposal costs are considerable. In most cases, the investment pays off within two or three years. In addition to the effect they have on the environment and the pocket, contaminated dampening solutions also have a negative impact on print behavior - the plates do not run as smoothly and the ink/water balance becomes much narrower. The stop-gap solution used in the past was to change the dampening solution, which involved production downtimes of up to an hour.

Green printing discussed as a model for the future

More and more print shops are taking on board the principles of sustainability and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), too, is committed to this development. For a number of years, the company has been employing a variety of measures for minimizing the use of resources, and for reducing emissions and waste or even eliminating them altogether - both in its own manufacturing operations and in the subsequent use of the presses it produces. Intensive dialog with users, i.e. print shops, is an important part of this strategy.

U.S. printer Walsworth Publishing in Marceline, Missouri, has achieved an impressive level of productivity with its two new Speedmaster SM 102 eight-color perfecting presses. Both presses have far surpassed its expectations. "We recently set an eight-hour single-shift record of 400 plates on the Speedmaster 102," reports Mark Hatfield, Walsworth’s Vice President of Manufacturing Operations. "And our new record for a single 24-hour period is 960 plates," he adds. This is equivalent to an average of five jobs an hour. During peak production periods it is not uncommon for the shop to hang 900 plates a day on each of the eight-color presses.

Faced with the continuing poor demand resulting from the global economic and financial crisis, the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has decided to take further measures to ensure the company’s competitiveness and efficiency. By financial year 2010/2011, these measures by the world market leader for printing presses - including the existing initiatives - are intended to result in total savings in the order of 400 million Euro (previous target 200 million Euro) compared to financial year 2007/2008. As a result, the company will be much better equipped to face future challenges and will also be well placed when the crisis is over.

The correct reproduction of gray values is a key quality indicator in printing. Until now, printers have mainly used visual checks to achieve the correct gray balance by changing the thicknesses of the ink layers for solid tints during setup.

The Hungarian print shop Pera Nyomda in Budapest has been working with the region’s first Eurobind 4000 adhesive binder since the end of last year. The greater quality of the adhesive bound products and the increased ability to meet delivery deadlines have given the company a springboard to attract new business. "The Eurobind 4000 has boosted our productivity and given us the means to process high-quality printed sheets into end products in house," explains László Kvassay, owner of Pera Nyomda. In the first two months, the company has already supplied 300,000 brochures.

Polish print shop Chromapress will shortly take delivery of a Speedmaster SM 74 equipped with the 50,000th half-format printing unit from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). "With our new Speedmaster SM 74 five-color press with coating unit we are aiming to boost productivity and offer top quality at reasonable prices," explains Chromapress owner Janusz Wyszynski. The commercial printshop has big plans and is looking to increase orders and sales by 70 percent over the next two to three years. "We are expecting fast makeready, excellent flexibility, and a high level of automation with the new Speedmaster. It will extend the range of grammages we are able to process, and the coating unit will produce impressive finishes that put us in an excellent competitive position," continues Wyszynski.

Proving that eco-friendliness and economy are not mutually exclusive, the ABC Print Group in Hereford in the U.K. has been printing for over a year with a Speedmaster SM 52 with an Anicolor short inking unit. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) unveiled Anicolor technology at IPEX 2006, enabling customers to cut waste by up to 90 percent. "We estimated we’d save one million sheets and are pleasantly surprised to find that this figure is actually over 1.5 million sheets for the year," says Mike Greene, Managing Director of the ABC Print Group. "We therefore save over 32 tons of paper each year and reduce the impact on the environment by around 40 tons of CO2 a year," he adds. The short makeready times enable the print shop to produce up to ten 180-sheet jobs an hour. "Anicolor is a highly innovative technology that ensures profitability for us and allows us to offer our customers a fast, high-quality print service," says a delighted Greene.

The print media industry is in a constant state of flux. With many experts predicting fiercer competition than ever before in 2009, the search is on for solutions to achieve maximum productivity. There is also greater demand for companies to ensure optimum staff support and staff motivation. There is universal agreement that staff and management require regular further training to survive on the market.

The Speedmaster XL 162 sheetfed press and the Prinect Press Center press control station from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) have been selected to receive the prestigious Good Design Award. Both products are based on the innovative New_Arc design developed by Heidelberg with meticulously planned ergonomics and intuitive operation for enhanced productivity.

Industrial print shops looking to offer their customers top quality and quick delivery achieve this through high-performance presses such as the new Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting device from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). This Peak Performance Class press is now in use at a number of pioneering print shops around the world and is setting new standards in terms of productivity and cost efficiency in perfecting mode. "This press enables us to boost productivity by ten million sheets per year," report Christian and Stefan Aumüller, owners of Aumüller Druck in Regensburg. This commercial print shop has a workforce of hundred and, following a comprehensive field test, installed not one but four Speedmaster XL 105 perfecting presses in its pressroom. "The excellent productivity and flexibility of these presses cuts production costs and enables us to offer competitive prices," the two owners add. The Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting device is an integrated end-to-end system that processes substrate thicknesses of between 0.03 and 0.60 millimeters (between 0.0012 and 0.024 inches) at a speed of 15,000 sheets per hour.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is expanding the range of printing plates, inks, coatings and print additives it offers customers in Germany by acquiring the ink specialist Ulrich Schweizer GmbH/IPS GmbH (Schweizer), based in Waiblingen.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recently installed South Africa’s first Speedmaster XL 75 at Masterpack in Johannesburg, one of the country's leading packaging printers.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has received a bronze medal from FAMAB, the Association for Direct Business Communications, for its impressive showing at drupa 2008. Heidelberg triumphed in the "XXL exhibition presentations" category (booths larger than 1,500 square meters), setting an excellent example in the B2B segment. Top spot went to Mercedes and second place to Audi for their showings at last year's International Motor Show. The awards were presented in the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum in front of more than 1,000 people. The panel of judges included well-known names from marketing and event agencies, industry, science, and the media.

The Martin Wetzel print shop in Gerlingen recently set a new record on its Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press, printing more than 200 million sheets in just seven years. An average value for the same period is 70 million sheets.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) opened its new Print Media Center (PMC) in Wiesloch-Walldorf with a series of successful customer events.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) expects a significant downturn in sales and thus a marked reduction in operating result (EBIT) for the current financial year (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009) compared to last year. The financial result is also expected to be down due to the current financial crisis and the movements in interest rates. These developments coupled with the restructuring costs will lead to a significant annual deficit in the current financial year.

Not one, but three solutions from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) have just won the "Good Design Award 2008" of the "Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization" (JIDPO). The Japanese design experts on the panel of judges singled out the Speedmaster XL 162, the Suprasetter 162 platesetter, and the Prinect Press Center press control station in the investment goods category. All three solutions from Heidelberg made their debut at drupa 2008. The two large-format solutions - the Speedmaster XL 162 and the Suprasetter 162 - have already won the "red dot design award" for outstanding design quality this year.

The Print Media Academy (PMA) and experts of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG invites managers, supervisors and key employees of print media companies to a three-day lean printing seminar. The aim of this workshop is to increase dwindling profit margins and uncover untapped print production capacities.

The Print Media Center Information Days 2008 in September represented a second outing for this initiative following a successful premiere last year. Over 230 European customers from outside Germany took up the invitation to come to Heidelberg and watch numerous standard demonstrations over two days at the Print Media Center (PMC) on the ground floor of the main administrative building. "We don’t just talk about technology, we demonstrate it - in direct, personal contact with our customers," stressed Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Management Board Member for Markets, in his welcoming address. The event was attended by guests from Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Austria, France, and even Estonia and Ukraine. There were also interested visitors from the U.K., Finland and Slovakia.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will, based on first calculations, achieve sales between 800 and 820 million Euro in the second quarter of the current financial year 2008/2009 (July 1 to September 30). Thus, sales volume is less than expected for the quarter following drupa trade fair and decreased by ten percent compared with the same quarter in the previous financial year.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and Noy Systems Ltd. (www.noysystems.co.il) have signed an exclusive agreement for the sale of Heidelberg solutions in Israel. The new sales partner, based in Petach-Tikva near Tel Aviv, will provide support for around 300 Heidelberg customers in Israel and is well placed to offer them the full Heidelberg portfolio of prepress, press, and postpress solutions, including workflow solutions and services. This family business was founded in 1985 and currently employs 27 staff. For the beginning of next year it is planning to raise this number to around 40.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recently opened its first Print Media Academy (PMA) in India, in the city of Chennai. As a result, the company has a knowledge platform for the print media industry that now spans all four of the BRIC countries - the key global growth regions of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Heidelberg now runs a total of more than 18 PMA sites in 15 different countries.

At this year's drupa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) gave Anicolor, the company's innovative short inking unit, its very own exhibition area in Hall 1. Large numbers of visitors saw the presentations on the Speedmaster SM 52 four-color press with coating unit and the Speedmaster SM 52 ten-color press. One new development is the use of Saphira Anicolor spot colors based on the Pantone Matching System (PMS), which have been specifically geared to Anicolor requirements.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recently installed the world's first Suprasetter for the new large format. The first company to use this machine is Brüder Glöckler GmbH & Co KG (www.gloeckler.co.at), based in Wöllersdorf near Vienna. "I saw the new Suprasetter 162 at drupa in Düsseldorf. For me as a large-format printer, it was one of the show’s highlights. This initial impression has been confirmed by our first experiences of actually using the system. We are particularly impressed by the plate imaging, overall productivity and reliability," comments Gustav Glöckler, Managing Director of Brüder Glöckler GmbH & Co KG.

As a result of the keen interest shown at drupa for the new Heidelberg Eco Printing Award, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has decided to extend the closing date for entries by a month to the end of August 2008. This means that any print shop around the world that is equipped with at least one sheetfed offset press now has until August 31, 2008, to submit an entry for this illustrious award. Prizes will be awarded to the most sustainable print shop and for innovative stand-alone solutions that promote environmental protection in prepress, press, and postpress.

Following in the footsteps of prepress and press, all current generations of electronic postpress equipment have also been covered by Heidelberg Remote Service since drupa 2008. Heidelberg thus provides Internet-based services for all value-added operations in the print shop. This makes it the only supplier in the print media industry offering solutions that can be fully maintained online.

In the course of the re-alignment of the Management Board responsibilities, the Postpress division of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), supervised by Chief Technology Officer Stephan Plenz, will be newly arranged.

Prinect Inpress Control, the inline color measuring system from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), was this year’s winner of the prestigious InterTech Award presented by the GATF (Graphic Arts Technical Federation). The far faster setup times of this inline measuring system, which Heidelberg unveiled at Ipex 2006, made a particular impression on the panel of judges - a result of the machine no longer having to be stopped for sheet pulls and measurements. Both inking up and registration are quicker, too. The fact that the machine does not need to be stopped also cuts paper waste.

UD Print AG in Lucerne, Switzerland, has recently begun production operations using the world’s first certified carbon-neutral Speedmaster XL 105-5+LX sheetfed offset press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). The greenhouse gases produced in manufacturing the press have been calculated and offset. Environmental impact experts PE International took account of all relevant parameters, from extracting raw materials and material production to press manufacture, testing, and transportation to the print shop.

Like most industry experts, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has come away from drupa with the impression that the printing press industry is facing a prolonged period of sluggishness. Although there are still some growth segments and dynamic markets - such as packaging printing - it is negative factors that predominate. Heidelberg does not expect to see any significant upturn in the industry for the time being. In addition to difficult cyclical parameters and problematic exchange rate movements, the current market situation faced by Heidelberg is also being affected by the rapidly increasing prices of raw materials - in particular steel and energy - and this is having a sustained negative effect on the economic situation of all market players in the industry.

This year, the drupa organization offered symposia for print buyers for the first time, thus catering to a key target group. Over a nine day period, fee-based events for print buyers were extremely popular, showing that the entire value-added chain for printing is becoming increasingly integrated. To be successful as a print service provider in this professionalized field, you do not only need perfect technology but also marketing know-how. Customers need to be supplied with cost-effectively produced print media offering optimum support for their communication goals.

The official commissioning of a Speedmaster XL 145 at FREUND GmbH in Georgsmarienhütte just a short time after drupa marks the successful debut in practice of the new format class from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). FREUND GmbH, which is celebrating its centenary this year, is the first company to use the new generation of presses form Heidelberg. When taking delivery of the XL 145, the Managing Partner of FREUND GmbH, Karl-Heinz Freund, stressed the close relationship with Heidelberg. "We have enjoyed a very successful technology partnership with Heidelberg for a number of years.

At the start of June 2008, MM Graphia Trier, a member of the leading European folding carton manufacturer Mayr-Melnhof Packaging, signed an agreement for a Dymatrix 145 CSB, thus securing a second die cutter for the 1,060 × 1,450 millimeter (41.73 in 57.09 inch) format.

On the penultimate day of the drupa trade show in Düsseldorf, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) draws an encouraging conclusion. "At this point, of course, we can only give our first impressions of how drupa is progressing so far. We will only be able to say with certainty how the interest shown by buyers ultimately translates into real orders and whether it generates actual sales when we publish information on the first quarter at the start of August. I can say, however, that we have so far met our expectations," says Bernhard Schreier, Chief Executive Officer at Heidelberg.

In connection with drupa 2008, the Print Media Academy (PMA) hosted the first international network meeting "Women in Print", which took place in the Sternberg Lounge on June 5, 2008. More than 90 participants, among them Ulrike Schreier, spouse of Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier, followed the interesting lectures.

During drupa 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is expanding its Saphira range of consumables with the launch of an extended system solution for its InkLine automated ink supply system, which will be renamed InkStar. The new solution includes InkStar cartridges made from recycled materials, and Heidelberg is also introducing a two-stage cutting and shredding system for the disposal of empty cartridges that helps cut waste volumes by up to 70 percent.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is using drupa to underline its unparalleled integration know-how in the print industry. The company's entire drupa trade show presentation in Halls 1 and 2 showcases a total of 18 print shops that are all fully integrated using the Prinect print shop workflow, from the MIS and prepress to press and postpress. All demo print jobs shown at the trade show are therefore created using Prinect.

At drupa 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) was awarded the ET EuroTest mark and the safety-tested GS mark for several of its postpress products. These include the automated combi folder series Stahlfolder KH 82, the new adhesive binder system Eurobind 4000, the collator Eurogatherer 4000, the three-knife trimmer Eurotrim 4000C, and the adhesive binders Eurobind 600 and Eurobind 1300. The new Diana X 115 was also awarded the ET and GS marks, making it the only folder gluer with these test certificates. The certificates and marks were presented by Albrecht H. Glöckle, Head of the Specialist Committee of the German Institution for Statutory Insurance and Prevention in the Printing and Paper Industry (Berufsgenossenschaft).

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is demonstrating to customers at drupa 2008 how job changes can be cut to around three minutes from the final OK sheet of the previous job to the first OK sheet of the following one, including a paper change. These reduced makeready times result from the perfect interplay of four key innovations:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has just handed over the 2,000. computer-to-plate (CtP) imagesetting system in the Suprasetter family to the Australian prepress company PageSet Digital Print & Pre-press at drupa in Düsseldorf. The device is a Suprasetter 105 with a throughput of 27 plates per hour. The order includes a Multi Cassette Loader for up to 600 plates and the Prinect Prepress Manager for an automated prepress workflow.

Drupa 2008 had scarcely opened its gates than the first Speedmaster XL 162 had found a home in Italy. On the opening day of drupa 2008, representatives of the management team of SIZ Grafiche S.p.A (SIZ), a medium-sized print shop based in Verona, and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) scheduled the installation for this coming August. SIZ specializes in printing books - including very prestigious art books for the European and North American market - and chose a Speedmaster XL 162 with five printing units. In addition to 70 x 100 centimeter format presses, SIZ has been using 6 and 7B format printing presses for several years and is planning to expand this segment.

During more than 50 years of the company's history, the Thung Hua Sinn Group has become a specialist in packaging and label printing, documented by a large number of prestigious awards for quality printing and environmentally friendly printing. The company achieved its reputation as market leader through offering not just one-stop services, including prepress and finishing, but also coating, die cutting and embossing.

During drupa 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is showcasing a broad range of end-to-end solutions spanning all aspects of offset printing. The world market leader will be using a display area of over 7,800 square meters (approximately 84,000 square feet) to demonstrate a diverse range of print jobs from all relevant segments. From prepress through press to postpress - every single stage is integrated using the various modules of the Prinect workflow software. This huge portfolio gives Heidelberg customers the tools they need to cope with the cost pressures in the industry.

A new six-color Speedmaster CD 74 UV and a Suprasetter A74 from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) were recently installed at the newly refurbished marks-3zet waterless printing center in Mülheim a. d. Ruhr in Germany.

As the world's premier printing press manufacturer, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has obtained certification to the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard for its Print Media Centers at the Heidelberg and Wiesloch-Walldorf sites. FSC is a global certification system that stands for sustainable forestry. Wood and paper with the FSC seal of approval is guaranteed not to come from overexploited forests. The FSC promotes socially responsible and environmentally friendly forestry. FSC certified products guarantee this sustainability from the processing stage to the end consumer.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will take over the high-performance coating manufacturer Hi-Tech Coatings based in the UK and the Netherlands. This move will enable Heidelberg to add the manufacture and sale of high-performance coatings for the production of printed materials and packaging to its solutions portfolio for consumables. Based in Aylesbury in the UK and Zwaag in the Netherlands, Hi-Tech Coatings develops and produces over 1,000 environmentally friendly products and formulations for the print media industry, primarily water- and UV-based coatings.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is offering HEI LIGHT Tours of Halls 1 and 2 during drupa (May 29 through June 11, 2008) in Düsseldorf.

Market conditions worsened considerably for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in financial year 2007/2008 (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008), with sales, operating result and net profit all down on the previous year's levels. "Poorer economic prospects have taken their toll over the past financial year, in particular during the second six months," stated Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier. "This has led to a reluctance to invest in a number of regions," he added.

On May 1, 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will start construction work for drupa in Düsseldorf. The world's largest trade show for the printing and paper industry will run from May 29 through June 11, 2008. On an area of 7,800 square meters in Halls 1 and 2, Heidelberg will be showcasing its integrated portfolio of solutions for commercial and packaging printing that extends right up to the end product. "We are facing a particular challenge this year - creating a giant print shop in a record time of just 28 days," reports Franz Haaf, Technical Manager in charge of the Heidelberg trade show presentation. "Normally, it would take over six months to set up such a comprehensive print shop with prepress, press, postpress and networks," explains Haaf. The tight timeframe is the result of the interpack trade fair, which is also being held in Düsseldorf - from April 24 through 30, 2008. Heidelberg is also participating in this event, though without exhibiting any equipment.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is launching a new generation of CleanStar process air extractors that complies easily with the low occupational exposure limits for ammonia and dust set by the EU. The new CleanStar is now available for the Speedmaster XL 105 and CD 102 press series. It will be launched for the Speedmaster SM 102 before the end of the year.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recently won the "Most Progressive Environmental Process" award from Canadian trade magazine PrintAction. Over 400 representatives from the Canadian print media industry were present to see Heidelberg receive the award for its environmentally friendly presses. One aspect that was rated particularly highly was the company’s holistic approach to environmental protection, with environmental issues being taken into consideration at every stage - from the development and manufacture of presses to their operation in print shops.

At drupa 2008 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the world’s largest trade show devoted to printing technology from May 29 to June 11, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be presenting a trade show program, consisting of tours, lectures and excursions for marketing professionals, creatives, production managers and purchasers.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is committed to helping vocational schools, colleges and universities that provide print media industry training in the emerging markets of India, Turkey, South Africa, and Ukraine. A special advanced training course for teachers and lecturers at these establishments should significantly improve the training available in these countries so that they are able to satisfy the requirements of the international print media industry. The initiative kicked off in Münster, where a group of Indian teachers have started their training.

A whole range of analyses and studies show that the packaging printing sector promises to deliver sustainable, long-term growth. By 2020, for example, paper and cardboard consumption in this sector is set to grow by more than 150 percent in Russia, 100 percent in China, and 17.5 percent in Germany - per capita!

With a 70 percent market share, Heidelberg is the global market leader for long perfection presses in format 27.6 x 39.4 inch (70 x 100 centimeter). But instead of singing our own praises, let’s let one of our customers report on how he reached his exceptional productivity goals.

The print market in China has been dominated by a single trend in the past few years: growth. While the print industry in other parts of the world is consolidating, China’s market continues to expand. Between 2001 and 2005, the industry grew by 14.6 percent. Around 3.4 million people currently earn their living in the country’s 60,000 print shops. The Chinese government is expecting the domestic print industry to manufacture print products worth a total of 42.5 billion Euro by 2010.

Producing high quality packaging, such as those for cigarettes, cosmetics or candy, is the strength of the Dymatrix 106. The die cutter has full mastery of an extensive repertoire of various folding box types and materials, from thin paper to corrugated board and plastic.

In accedence with the absolution of Windows Server 2008, ThinPrint, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, will absolution a adaptation of its book administering band-aid ThinPrint .print for the new Windows operating system. This will acquiesce companies who about-face to Windows Server 2008 to abide appliance ThinPrint's accurate appearance afterwards March 2008.

Due to the difficult market environment, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG will not reach the predicted figures of the sales and operating result (EBIT) for fiscal year 2007/2008 (ending March 31, 2008) given on February 5, 2008. According to today's preliminary calculations, sales of the Heidelberg Group will not reach the result from the previous year of about 3.8 billion Euro but will turn out to be about three percent lower.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be providing information on its solutions portfolio for folding carton production at the international trade show interpack 2008 (Düsseldorf, April 24-30, 2008). Heidelberg packaging printing experts will be on hand to give advice to visitors to the company's joint stand at "Innovationparc Packaging" in Hall 7a. Heidelberg will be focusing on solutions for the entire folding carton production line and will not be exhibiting production equipment.

At drupa 2008 from May 29 to June 11 (Halls 1 and 2), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be rounding off the upper end of its portfolio for packaging and commercial printers by moving into the 102 x 142 centimeter (40.16 x 55.91 inch) and 120 x 162 centimeter (47.24 x 63.78 inch) format classes. The new platform for the Speedmaster models XL 145 and XL 162 will be put on public show for the first time at the industry event in Düsseldorf.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is now offering a world's first in the form of DryingMonitor, the latest addition to its Star peripherals. Thanks to the system’s innovative sensor technology and inline measuring process, press operators now have access to objective information on the drying quality of coated sheets. This is obtained by determining the amount of coating applied in the coating unit and by equipping the delivery and any drying units with sensors that record all drying-related parameters. These include the amount of water introduced by the coating, the volume of air and the temperature and humidity of the incoming and outgoing air. DryingMonitor uses all these parameters to produce a recommendation for the press operator, indicating whether they should use a lower or higher dryer output for a perfect drying result.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is launching a new generation of CleanStar process air extractors that complies easily with the low occupational exposure limits for ammonia and dust set by the EU. The new CleanStar is now available for the Speedmaster XL 105 and CD 102 press series. It will be launched for the Speedmaster SM 102 before the end of the year.

The Print Media Academy offers tips from professionals for professionals, providing all print shop staff with support in overcoming problems when printing and also help prevent potential printing problems before they occur.

The Print Media Academy (PMA) in Heidelberg is presenting its annual program for 2008 under the title "Where Professionals Learn from Professionals". The range of courses on offer for the print media industry includes more than 40 seminars, training courses and workshops. The various events provide information on industry expertise, production know-how, sales, marketing and management. They aim at print buyers, specialists and management staff throughout the print media industry.

One of the main topics in the latest issue of Heidelberg News (number 263) is the rapid expansion of digital media and the far-reaching effects this is having on media usage. As a result, it is now more important than ever that the advantages of print are made absolutely clear. Print shops must therefore ensure that their printed media expertise is firmly focused on the challenges posed by this changing media landscape.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be demonstrating its technological and innovative skills and the resulting customer benefits at the international drupa 2008 trade show (Dusseldorf, May 29 - June 11). The world market leader will be showcasing solutions for packaging and commercial printing in sheetfed offset in two exhibition halls covering around 7,800 square meters. These include its outstanding Anicolor inking unit technology, the Prinect print shop workflow, and countless other "HEI Lights", with the Speedmaster XL 162 receiving its world premiere.

With immediate effect, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is to incorporate the universal palletizers of Winkler+Dünnebier AG (W+D, Neuwied) into its product portfolio, with the aim of selling the products exclusively to international manufacturers in the folding carton and printing industries. The palletizers will continue to be sold under the brand name "Winkler+Dünnebier". A contract to this effect was recently signed by both companies.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is now offering its high-end color measuring and control system Prinect Image Control with integrated Prinect Quality Monitor software. This function enables easier and faster quality analyses of print products during the production process. As a result, printers can now access all key quality parameters such as dot gain and color deviations for each measured sheet at the touch of a button and can also see at a glance whether the values match in-house quality standards.

Saphira stands for the highest level of quality and service
New, globally standardized Saphira range at drupa 2008

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is extending its worldwide operations in consumables by grouping all its own consumables in the "Saphira" product category. The company will be presenting a new, globally standardized Saphira range at drupa 2008.

Over 8,000 participants attend around 800 courses in first six months
Largest Heidelberg training center for customers and staff

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is delighted about the successful start made by its "Educ@te Center" in Eppelheim near Heidelberg, which officially opened in July 2007. Some 8,000 participants have already attended the training courses on offer this year. "The encouraging response from customers and staff to our wide-ranging training program at the Educ@te Center underlines the demand for professional basic and advanced training courses in the print media industry," states Bernd Schopp, Head of the Print Media Academy (PMA), commenting on the initial success of the Educ@te Center.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has already sold more than 60 Speedmaster SM 52 presses with Anicolor technology. As a result, print shops around the world are able to build their own valuable competitive advantages. Demand is particularly high in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland and the U.K. This year, Anicolor technology won the prestigious U.S. PIA/GATF Award for technological innovation. Last year, it won Deutscher Drucker magazine's annual innovation award.

Two Heidelberg customers are among the winners of the CIPPI Awards 2007. BVD Druck & Verlag AG, based in Liechtenstein, and Japanese company Yamazen Communication won awards for their extremely cost-effective and efficient integration solutions. CIPPI representatives today presented BVD Druck & Verlag with the first prize in the category "Biggest improvement in efficiency and customer responsiveness as a result of process automation".

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is publishing its financial statements for the first six months of financial year 2007/2008 (April 1 to September 30, 2007). At 1.639 billion Euro, Heidelberg Group sales in the first six months of the year remained at last year's high level (previous year: EUR 1.628 billion) despite the strength of the euro.

If the pattern of adoption for digital imaging currently happening in the USA is repeated in the UK, then it could sound the death knell for traditional film. Between May 2006 and May 2007 the volume of digital photos prints produced in the USA grew by a staggering 34%, with online photo services seeing an 80% rise in popularity, according to the Photo Marketing Association International.

When Johann Gutenberg invented his printing press in 1440, as creative and farsighted as he must have been, he can’t have seen how far his humble machine would go and to what wondrous purposes it would be used.

A cheap and rather effective way to boost up sales for a short period of time is through leaflet printings. Leaflets are one of your most effective marketing weapons, if you are a smart marketer. They can push up your sales and your brand recognition with the consumers, if you know how to use them and more importantly, when to use them.

The Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74 and Speedmaster XL 105 now come with a spectral "eye": Prinect Inpress Control. As a result, the slightest deviations in color no longer stand a chance. They are recognized immediately and automatically corrected - without having to pull any sheets.

It’s the same everywhere, you say. Marketing staff only ever want one thing - to sell. That’s what you think! In all honesty though, we do too. That’s why Heidelberg product manager Sebastian Schwarz wasn’t allowed to express his own opinion on the Speedmaster SM 102 but rather only report what customers have been up to with it.

Generally, postcards are used to write to a loved one especially if one is miles away. Often, postcards are prominent items in one’s list of things to buy when on vacation. But other than that, postcards have evolved into something that is important to a lot of people.

Time consuming, too much effort wasted, poor quality materials and expendable result. These are just some of the colorful adverbs that one can use when going about with their printing.

The introduction of the printing press has made producing multiple copies of a document much easier and convenient. This machine has changed the totality of the written language. It was a breakthrough in spreading literacy in the lower classes as books and other printed materials are now easily reproduced. Many more copies of a document could be made making the documents more available to the masses.

Today's printing presses can do many more things quicker than the early presses. The long ones print lots of colors all at once. The smaller ones print black only. The biggest, tallest presses are the ones responsible in making newspapers, magazines and comic books we read. Some presses can print both sides of the page at the same time. And some connect to a computer to make printing easier.

For all we know, printers do the job of printing document files and images. Take a look at this news report. A new printer has been designed to print beyond your imagination. When you look at it, it's not far from the desktop printers you have in your house or at the office. It looks savvy with its transparent design. You can see through the printer and its parts and how the printhead moves back and forth to deliver the inks on paper. It also displays in a monitoring screen the progress of the prints.

Thirty percent of reported accidents are manual handling accidents. These accidents include transporting and supporting of loads, awkward positioning, and unstable materials that are difficult to hold. It rarely results to death, but accidents like this can end up to major injuries such as fractured back or arm. It also results to damage and loss of construction materials.

Why should I care where I get my printed material from, I'll just go for tenders and go with the low bidder. If you do this probably you won't be in business for long or you'll never really run a successful business. My company, Solutions Ink started from the premise that I don't just sell printed products but rather I help businesses grow and prosper. Being in the business for over 20 years I've seen how the industry and the market have changed. Gone are the days you could charge what you want and deliver any quality good's.

Time consuming, too much effort wasted, poor quality materials and expendable result. These are just some of the colorful adverbs that one can use when going about with their printing. Time consuming because a person has to go through putting ideas into words, then writing and finding a good printer to do the job. Too much effort is wasted going about the task of wanting to have the best of the best material.

The new age of printing is piling up in the modern technology. The wide application is seen everywhere and nobody can say it hasn't been useful. Like everyday routines, printed materials, signs, posters and billboards are seen all over places and buildings. This has been a pretty advantage for some who are into campaign of their own products. Think of how they will be able to provide themselves with posters and banners which are evident and convincing if it wasn't for digital printing?

During the early times, when machines were not yet capable of doing human chores, the art of printing was done by hands. Everything has to be written. Imagine working and doing things manually like writing your report and having to rewrite them over and over to make copies. Pretty exhausting, isn't it? But then, the typewriter made a dramatic appearance in the printing industry. Although slow and manually operated, it was considered as one of the greatest invention that time.

The combination of KODAK DARWIN VI Authoring Tool and LOOK WHO’S CLICKING Software offers a powerful multi-channel solution to increase effectiveness and direct mail ROI The combination of KODAK DARWIN VI Authoring Tool and LOOK WHO’S CLICKING Software offers a powerful multi-channel solution to increase effectiveness and direct mail ROI

Many people are into sports. One of the most popular sport being watched by millions is world cup events, especially world cup soccer events. Many people follow the action of these events whether on screen or live. For those who watched this live, they have special tickets made to be able to get in the field of the action.

Have you thought about starting a screen printing business? It costs almost nothing to start a t-shirt printing business at home. I read about one guy who started a screen printing business with almost nothing. He made the frames with used lumber, and used fabric from an old wedding dress for the screens. He printed and sold signs. He also printed magnets (like what you see on car doors advertising a company), shirts, and baseball caps. He actually designed and built his own 4 color screen printing press. I bought the plans for his 4 color screen printing press on eBay. The plans were hard to follow, but I managed to build my own modified version of his press.

Zink Imaging has unveiled an innovative way of printing photos and images without the application of inks, ribbons, or even toners, reports The Open Press. A spin-off of the very popular Polaroid, the makers of the inkless printer claims this new technology can produce on-demand colour images and photos that will change the face of the printing technology, especially with poster printing. Without ink, ribbons, or even toners, the ZINK printer utilises a patented paper that changes its colour when heat is applied. This is made possible with the dye crystals that were put inside the photo paper.

Kodak elevates flexographic print quality with a new computer to plate (CTP) print solution for package printing. The KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System provides previously unachievable near offset print quality on a wide variety of substrates, including paper, flexible film, foil, and label stock. “Increasing competition in the package printing market is placing pressure on printers to deliver high quality print on a growing list of substrates,” said Vic Stalam, Director of Market Segments and Vice President, Packaging Products, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “The FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System provides a competitive advantage through higher resolution and a more productive process.”

The base model of the Canon imagePress C7000VP digital colour production printer has a price tag of RM1mil, and is developed to meet the high demands of the commercial print industry, said the manufacturer. This model is able to provide its users with excellent image quality, shorter run lengths and faster turnaround time, said Liew Sip Chon, Canon Malaysia president and CEO.

The PMP boss Brian Evans suffered a setback yesterday when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) blocked his plans to sell Griffin Press, the printer of Harry Potter books, into a joint venture with McPherson’s Printing Division. In his first big deal since joining PMP in 2005, Mr Evans wanted to start the joint venture with McPherson’s to gain scope against competitors and reduce debt.

Master printer Transcontinental Inc. yesterday bid $103 million cash for Toronto premedia and digital printing specialist PLM Group Ltd. in a friendly deal that would add $126 million to annual revenue and boost its stake in direct marketing. Transcontinental, North America’s sixth-largest commercial printer, offered $3.50 a share for PLM’s 29.5 million shares outstanding, or a 19-per-cent premium over the market price on Aug. 13, the day before PLM said it was talking with a single buyer.

At Graph Expo 2007, Sun Chemical ( Web Site Executives Related Articles Google) will showcase innovative solutions that can drive bigger profits while improving environmental performance at “Club Oasis,” an informal setting at booth 2819 in which guests can talk with Sun Chemical professionals away from the chaos of the show floor. Sun Chemical Club Oasis visitors will see new products and solutions that demonstrate Sun Chemical’s commitment to environmental sustainability, through the development of solutions that meet end-users’ stringent VOC requirements, lower energy use and waste reduction.

Kodak launched the first salvo last March when it introduced a line of ink jet printers with low-cost consumables. Now a second major player is preparing to launch a similar strategy - but this time in the midrange color printer market. Following Kodak’s lead, a marketing vice president for a major printer manufacturer, who declined to be named, told me in a meeting this week that his company will announce next month a new color printer that uses lower cost color ink.

Another week, another 8-megapixel compact camera. Can the Kodak EasyShare M873 stand out from its peers?

Initial impressions are that this camera is efficient, practical... uninspiring. ISO sensitivity up to 1600, allowing for digital image stabilisation, check. 3x optical zoom lens, check. Video shooting VGA resolution of 640x480 pixels at 30fps, check. Laughable 32MB of onboard memory and SD/MMC card expansion, check check check. Come on Kodak, surely you can do better.

Of course it can -- with its extras. The fact is that 8-megapixel (or thereabouts) compacts with 64mm (2.5-inch) LCD screens and 3x optical zooms are the bread-and-butter of the consumer camera market. Although compact megapixel counts are stacking up to 10 and 12 these days, and screens are starting to stretch to 3 inches and maybe even getting touchy-feely, the emphasis seems to be on keeping the numbers the same and cramming in more features.

NEW YORK: Hewlett-Packard has launched a $300 million global marketing campaign to spur the second phase of its Print 2.0 initiative.

Launched in May, Print 2.0 is an ongoing effort to reposition the company in the digital and Web-based printing market. The campaign targets the consumer market, as well as small and mid-sized businesses with interactive Web features.

To kick off the next phase of campaign, HP hosted a two-day conference last week that detailed the new features.

"The marketing campaign is about bringing Print 2.0 to a broader audience," said Alyson Griffin, HP's director of worldwide influencer communications. "It's about not just keeping it at the theoretical, influencer level, but making it real."

The company is now unveiling ways to make Print 2.0 relevant to consumers, she added.

Some of the top minds at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a working method of constructing small blood vessels using something akin to a modified inkjet printer.

The prototype vessel was made possible by a specially designed inkjet printer made at the Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology. It uses a mixture of living cells, a special type of medical gel and a solution of calcium chloride. The mixture of cells and gel is injected into the calcium chloride solution in a spiral pattern. The calcium chloride reacts with the gel, causing it to turn solid and keeping the cells in their desired shape. They have thus far printed small blood vessels of 1mm in diameter and 30mm long. The interior wall of the blood vessel is that of endothelial cells while the outer wall is comprised of muscle cells, just like an ordinary vessel.

Screen (USA) will emphasize four decades of leadership in serving the North American graphic communications industry by showcasing prepress, workflow and printing technologies at this year's Graph Expo that represent the pinnacle of innovative research and development. The year 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Screen (USA) as the first overseas subsidiary of Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd., and the Screen booth (#3801) will show visitors how Screen digital solutions continue to revolutionize prepress and print production.

At 9:30 a.m. on September 10, Screen representatives will hold a press conference in the McCormick Place tradeshow booth. Topics to be discussed include highlights from the U.S. organization's anniversary year, product introductions, Screen's digital printing strategy and the delivery of the 11,111th Screen computer-to-plate (CTP) recorder.

Lexmark has launched three new all-in-one wireless printers that are targeted at small office/home office (SOHO) professionals and combines the flexibility of wireless connectivity, the efficiency of automatic two-sided printing and the convenience of easy installation.

HP today announced new graphic arts solutions and real-world, emerging digital printing applications designed to extend digital content creation and publishing platforms.

Demonstrating digital printing’s ability to bring the world to life by elevating the power of printing, the new HP Graphic Arts offerings, presented today and tomorrow at an experience center and in presentations during the HP Print 2.0: Extending the Power of Print Conference, include:

NUR Macroprinters (NURMF.PK), a leading supplier of wide-format inkjet production printers for the printing industry, today announced that, according to I.T. Strategies report, as of December 31st, 2006, NUR owns a market share of over 75% in the wide-format UV Roll-to-Roll printer sector (> $200K). These numbers confirm NUR's leading position in the global wide-format and super wide-format UV Roll-to-Roll markets.