April 23, 2007 -- In 1995, Atlanta’s Tucker-Castleberry installed its first six-color-with-coating ROLAND 700 from MAN Roland. Twelve years and 184 million impressions later, it’s replacing the press with an identical model. The update is not because the old press is worn out, however, but because the latest iteration of the ROLAND 700 is so much more efficient. “These new MAN Roland presses are 20% more productive than the ones made just six or seven years ago,” says Tuck Tucker, president of the family owned and operated firm. “Their makereadies and run rates are so much faster that we’re able to get more out of our plant than ever before. The new ROLAND 700 makes Tucker-Castleberry even more competitive in going after jobs and it will increase our profit margins as well.” Productivity Times Three Founded in 1949, Tucker-Castleberry has grown to become a mainstay full-service printer for Atlanta companies. The facility also works with national accounts, including major corporations, advertising agencies, design firms, sports franchises and associations. Products range from brochures to catalogs, programs, calendars and cards. The company’s fleet of three ROLAND 700s handles it all, able to print on stock ranging up to 40 pt. “Not only do they print exquisite solids, but they keep hickeys out with their unique delta dampening system,” Tucker says. “We are also able to store all the components of every job on the CCI computer in case a reprint or similar job comes up. This is the same computer that constantly monitors color and keeps it consistent throughout the press run.” By equipping its pressroom with the printnet operating and automation system, Tucker-Castleberry has elevated its pressroom’s automated efficiencies to the next level. For instance, the company’s printnet PressManager module lets press operators preset a variety of makeready functions for a forthcoming project while a current job continues to print. As its name indicates, printnet also equips Tucker-Castleberry to network its three ROLAND 700 presses. That helps expedite scheduling, making it simple to swap jobs among the press trio. “It’s fantastic,” Tucker says. “Now that we have it, we couldn’t live without it.” That sentiment is also shared by the company’s press crews. “They absolutely love it,” Tucker observes. Out With The Old Tucker jokes that he was only expecting 100 million impressions from his first ROLAND 700 when he bought it. But he’s serious about the quality performance the 184 million impression machine delivered over its dozen years in his facility. “That press printed as good on its last run here as it did the day I bought it,” he says. “Solids were fantastic, no streaks, no ghosting, no problems. MAN Roland is by far the best printing press in the marketplace.” In With The New The extra productivity the new ROLAND 700 is providing has elevated it to lead press status. It runs three shifts a day, while the company’s 2004 ROLAND 700 runs two and its 1998 model runs one. “The extra shifts available on the other presses allows overtime for increased volume and rush jobs,” Tucker explains. “We billed over $17 million last year with that scenario.” All three of Tucker-Castleberry’s ROLAND 700s feature identical configurations, making it easier to move jobs among them. One difference is the 2004 model, which is equipped for 2/4 perfecting. It handles the 5% of the company’s work that can be perfected in a single, productive pass. The point of any new technology at Tucker-Castleberry is to be able to react quickly to satisfy customer needs, according to the company’s president. “We are a company that is ‘sales driven,’ not ‘production driven,’ “ he says. “ All of our employees will go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy and satisfied; and I mean all the time. This is where we always outperform the competition.” Quality Impressions Print quality is a key component of that performance. “We never have to give quality a second thought with these presses,” Tucker comments. “It’s always there.” Enhancing that quality image is the company’s ability to aqueous coat everything it prints. Tucker-Castleberry’s two existing MAN Roland presses and its new ROLAND 700 are equipped with inline coating systems, and approximately 80% of all printed pieces leave the plant coated. Tucker estimates that the added productivity the new ROLAND 700 provides results in 15-20% more printing capacity that he can deliver to his customers. And he’s equally impressed with the high level of service and support MAN Roland’s printservices provides to his operation. “On a scale of one to ten, I would rate them a nine,” he says. “I don’t think anyone could have done a better job on delivery and installation of the press, and getting everyone here up to speed. MAN Roland Project Manager Dan Glasgow spear-headed it all, and that’s why it went so smoothly.”