KENNESAW, Ga. - September 13, 2007 - Edwards Graphic Arts adds 6-color Speedmaster CD 102
Edwards Graphic Arts, Des Moines, Iowa, got precisely what it was looking for when it added a 6-color Speedmaster CD 102 with aqueous coating capabilities to its aging pressroom lineup. "Our aim was to increase our capacity and throughput by decreasing our makereadies and turn-around times," says company President Jim Edwards, who reports that after a trouble-free installation, the company's ramp up to press speeds of 13,000 to 15,000 iph on the fully automated new press has been an exhilarating ride.
In the past, the shop had to turn away jobs requiring aqueous coating. Now, it now welcomes the work, which fits neatly into the quick-turn niche the company is well-equipped to serve. The all-Heidelberg shop still operates an older-model 6-color Speedmaster, a 2-color GTO (its first press), a 4-color MO, a Windmill and assorted letterpress equipment, in addition to a pair of POLAR cutters, three Stahlfolders, and a Stitchmaster ST 562 6-pocket saddlestitcher.
Established in 1966, Edwards Graphic Arts provides printing, mailing, fulfillment and distribution as well as market research, trade show and creative services to a local, regional and national clientele. The family-run company has 75 full-time and 35 part-time employees.
Phillips Printing installsPrintmaster PM 52 Perfector
Determined to make their company the high-quality printing leader in their central Florida neighborhood, the owners of Phillips Printing went all the way with Heidelberg. In June, the Ocala, Fla. company switched to computer-to-plate and installed a Printmaster PM 52 4-color perfector to boost the productivity of its pressroom and make good on its quality promise.
"Heidelberg is synonymous with quality," says Jody Phillips, president. "We could have gone with lesser-quality equipment, but you get what you pay for. We wanted the best, and we haven't been disappointed." The Printmaster PM 52's running speed of 13,000 sheets per hour, coupled with its perfecting capability, means that Phillips now produces work more than twice as fast as before. The level of quality has begun to attract work from outside Ocala as well as work from local customers who previously took their four-color process work to providers elsewhere.
"We have literally doubled our throughput," according to Phillips. Family- owned and operated, Phillips Printing employs seven and handles a wide mix of work, including monthly publications and long runs, but specializes in short-run, four-color printing for clients in the advertising, manufacturing, nonprofit, religious and financial sectors. The long-time Heidelberg customer also has a Printmaster QM 46 2 color press, and uses Heidelberg Consumables specific to the Printmaster PM 52, Phillips says.