KENNESAW, Ga. -- Moquin Press, a trade printer located in Belmont, Calif., earned the distinction of becoming the first U.S. printer to install a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 in 2005. A second XL followed in 2006. The company recently acquired its third XL 105, this one a 6-color model equipped with 4 interdeck UV, Instant Start, DryStar Advanced, Color Assistant and Instant Gate. As an early adopter and habitual user of Heidelberg technology, Moquin understands the value of equipment built for long years of service at a punishing pace. Since 1988, Moquin Press has furnished Bay Area printers, print brokers, in-house print shops and designers with specialty printing, die cutting and foil stamping and finishing capabilities. "We take whatever comes in over the transom," says Greg Moquin, President, "so we have to be fast and flexible enough to do it all and still keep our standards in line with our customers' high expectations. The Speedmaster XL 105 is a made-to-

order solution for a business like ours." Since the third press went live in November 2008, the company has increased the capacity of its pressroom by 100 percent. "It's the best machine we've ever had," Moquin said.

Moquin reserves high praise for the XL 105's outstanding user-friendliness, which keeps operator intervention to a minimum: "From a production standpoint, there's not much need for manual adjustment. The present functionality of the machine is just phenomenal. We're definitely doing more with less labor." On the rare occasion a problem does arise, Heidelberg's Systemservice36 maintenance contract kicks in and "Heidelberg is on top of it immediately," Moquin said, adding that he plans to extend the coverage on his first two XLs under Heidelberg's Partner Program, just as he already has for the company's existing Speedmaster CD 74. Moquin's installation of its third XL also marks the company's first foray into hybrid UV printing, a move the company made to diversify its capabilities and take advantage of UV's environmental benefits.  "It's a learning experience," Greg Moquin said, especially when it comes to working with plastic. "Frankly, we had no idea there would be the kind of demand for it we have experienced thus far, but we're grateful to be learning the ropes on such a powerful and capable press."

Elsewhere in the shop, Moquin operates a 6-color Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74 with coater and a 4-color Heidelberg GTO, three programmable POLAR cutters and two continuous-feed Stahlfolders. Founded in 1985, Moquin Press employs a staff of 85.