Kennesaw, Ga. – For more than a year now, Heidelberg customers have enjoyed the convenience of Heidelberg's "plan-ahead" discount service pricing on presses manufactured in 2000 or earlier, provided they book the service five business days ahead of time.

Since Heidelberg's plan-ahead pricing structure went into effect, Mercury Press in Oklahoma City, Okla. has called on Heidelberg Systemservice personnel to troubleshoot various electrical and mechanical issues with its 1989 Speedmaster SM 74 and 1996 Speedmaster SM 102 presses. According to Bob Bankston, vice president and production manager, the company had been using an independent repair service to save money, but quickly reverted to Heidelberg System service when the discounted rate was introduced.

"We were delighted to come back to Heidelberg for service, as well as for the new two-year warranty on Heidelberg Original Replacement Parts," Bankston said. "We believe in preventive maintenance, and Heidelberg's pre-booking option makes it convenient and affordable for us to stick to a schedule that makes sense for us. That said, we were very satisfied with the quality of the service. Heidelberg Systemservice personnel were responsive, thorough, professional and efficient-truly the best in the business."

"Plan-ahead 'smart pricing' delivers the top-quality support our customers have come to expect at an affordable hourly rate," said Rodney Strasser, Director, Systemservice Product Marketing, Heidelberg USA. "There's no compromise, and no reason to risk the maintenance of their Heidelberg investments to anyone other than a highly skilled, factory-trained Heidelberg service technician. Heidelberg's budget-friendly smart pricing option gives printers the flexibility to approach maintenance in a proactive, rather than a reactive way."

Heidelberg's newly revised approach to service is earning high praise from customers, many of whom also mention the added convenience of Heidelberg's popular two-year extended warranty on Heidelberg Original Replacement Parts.

Scott Sanders, vice president, operations at Electric City Printing in Williamson, S.C. concurs enthusiastically. Earlier this year, the company replaced the gears, performed a gear alignment and completed resealing on its 2000 Speedmaster CD 102 6-color press.

"While we have used independents in the past, the new lower hourly rate is attractive enough that we will continue to use Heidelberg from here on out," Sanders said. "We always try to use the prescheduled option because it saves us money and prevents unplanned downtime. In addition, we find Heidelberg Systemservice technicians to be professional, exceptionally well trained and courteous. The new pricing just clinches the deal."

In addition to budget-friendly "smart pricing" and a two-year extended warranty on Original Heidelberg Replacement Parts, Heidelberg's recent introduction of several products, including e-Call intelligent notification service, web-based Remote Diagnostics, Installation Planning and Press Registration Evaluation, has given customers a variety of convenient, affordable options for risk-free preventive maintenance.