Offset Printing

Connecticut Printer Adds Three Heidelberg XL Presses – and a Lot of Productivity

Tuesday 04. November 2008 - Allied Printing Services in Manchester, Conn. has been a Heidelberg customer for more than 25 years.

And with steady growth across its two plants, the company is continuing to invest in Heidelberg with a new 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with coater and two new 6-color Speedmaster XL 75 presses, both with coaters and perfecting units. “Historically, we have been a Heidelberg company,” said John Sommers, president. “I bought my first Heidelberg sheetfed press in 1980. They make good machines.” Founded in 1949, Allied offers a full range of printing services, plus complete bindery, mailing and fulfillment divisions. The shop specializes in general commercial and financial work. The new XL 105 was installed about six weeks ago, and the first of two XL 75 presses has been up and running for about three weeks. The second is slated for installation soon. Sommers has already noticed an increase in productivity with the new presses, including one eight-hour shift during which his crew hung 13 sets of plates. “To have that happen in one of the shifts is amazing,” he said. “Heidelberg’s XL series of presses are so fast that our operators have had to redefine their methods for preparing the next job. The entire process is much more productive than before.” In addition to the new machines, the company runs an 8-color Speedmaster CD 102 with UV and aqueous coating capabilities, a 6-color Speedmaster CD 102 with coater and a 6-color Speedmaster SM 52 across its two plants.