KENNESAW, Ga., July 14, 2008 - Proteus Packaging has become the first U.S. company to purchase Heidelberg's new Speedmaster XL 145 press - one of two very large format (VLF) press models Heidelberg unveiled at drupa 2008. The Franklin, Wis.-based folding carton producer chose the 6-color Speedmaster XL 145 press with inline aqueous coater to upgrade its pressroom and keep the company competitive in a challenging marketplace. The new machine will be the first VLF press from Heidelberg installed in North America.

Proteus expects to replace two older VLF presses with the XL 145, thanks to major gains in efficiency expected with the new press. "Our existing larger-format presses are 23 years old and just aren't fast enough to meet today's market demands," said Tim Wayman, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Proteus. "We needed to upgrade our press equipment to stay current and position ourselves to capture new market opportunities, and Heidelberg will enable us to do this."

Proteus' pressmen will receive extensive training on their new technology at Heidelberg's state-of-the-art PMDC facility in Kennesaw. "We were really impressed by how well Heidelberg's people handle training," Wayman said. "This provides a major advantage for our pressmen and the productivity of our shop overall."

Heidelberg's VLF presses are designed to meet the specific requirements of the folding carton and package printing sectors and deliver fast makereadies and high productivity on a broad range of substrates, all through a user-friendly and intuitive interface. After a visit to Heidelberg's R&D facility in Wiesloch, Germany, where Proteus gained an in-depth look at the features and technology benefits of the XL 145, the company decided to go with Heidelberg.

Some of the innovations on the XL 145 that particularly impressed Proteus were:
    •    Prinect Inpress Control, which measures color and register in the quality control strip on the fly;
    •    Prinect Press Center with Wallscreen, a state-of-the-art control station that combines press operation with color and register control in a single, central console;
    •    Single suction belt feeder, for the utmost precision in sheet transport.

"High performance based on improved production speed and makeready is what will pay for this press," Wayman said. "We were really impressed during our visit to Germany and left with the confidence that the XL 145 would meet our needs. We toured and tested a range of equipment, and, hands down, Heidelberg performed the best." Indeed, with a top speed of 15,000 sheets per hour, the XL 145 is one of the fastest machines of its size in the market.

For Proteus, the decision to go with Heidelberg came down to an alignment of superior technology offerings, press performance and timing. The folding carton manufacturer relocated from downtown Milwaukee to a new facility two years ago with the intent of buying new machines within a few years. "The timing for us was perfect," Wayman said. "As we began to discuss our upgrade plans, we were poised and ready to listen to what Heidelberg had to offer in this category."

Heidelberg's reputation for service also played a role in Proteus Packaging's decision. "Heidelberg's service organization provides the best coverage in the industry," Wayman said. "There are simply more people available to help." As with all new presses from Heidelberg, the shop's XL 145 will be protected by Systemservice 36plus, which includes all repair services, parts and 24/7 support for three years.

Proteus has more than 80 employees company-wide, with around a dozen in the pressroom across two shifts.