Offset Printing

Heidelberg Long Associated with Quality for Veteran Colorado Springs Printer

Thursday 01. May 2008 - Few printers know offset printing like Werner Thanner, a Swiss émigré who worked as an instructor at the International Typographical Union retraining hot metal typesetters on how to use new "cold type" and offset equipment during the 1960s.

Thanner founded LT Litho in Colorado Springs in 1987 after over four decades of printing experience, from his apprenticeship days in Switzerland in the 1940s to running (then later selling) his first print shop in the 1970s — and he has worked with Heidelberg equipment throughout his career. “I grew up in Switzerland with Heidelberg presses,” Thanner said. Thus, it was an easy decision for him to invest in a new Heidelberg 5-color Speedmaster CD 74 press with coater. “We receive extremely good support from Heidelberg. That creates a comfort zone.” With 19 full-time employees, plus a few part-time employees, LT Litho runs multi-color sales materials, booklets, pocket folders and other general commercial work. With the addition of the CD 74, Thanner expects to expand into packaging, since the new press can handle heavier board than his old one, and can do it all at higher speeds. “The CD 74 is running exceptionally well,” he said. “It’s printing beautifully. The word is out that we have this wonderful Heidelberg press, and it has helped business already. We’re trying to sell quality, and I think we have a reputation of being the best in town, especially now with the new CD 74.” LT Litho also recently installed a new POLAR cutter to keep up with the new press. The shop uses Heidelberg blankets and other consumables to ensure top output quality and performance on its new Speedmaster press. “I’m proud of the equipment and I think we will make our mark in the industry locally,” Thanner said. “At my age, people ask why I don’t retire. But I like the printing business and I like to see a good product come off the end of the press. It’s gratifying.”