More than 40 representatives of printshops from Russia's Southern region and Moscow attended the recent installation ceremony of the Speedmaster XL 105 eight-color with coating and perfecting unit, CutStar and Prinect Inpress Control at Rostov-on-Don-based Prof-Press - the first press of its kind in Russia. The platform of the Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting unit from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), designed to meet even the most ambitious demands of the market, had been launched on the occasion of drupa 2008. 

Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting unit sets new records in terms of annual production 
The Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting unit allows Prof-Print to produce a printing volume of around four million prints per month. The list of requirements from customers is continuously getting longer: fast delivery times, shorter run lengths, high quality, and exquisitely finished end products. Customers who use the Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting device to keep their pressrooms up-to-date clearly have the edge in this regard. This Peak Performance Class press is a benchmark in the 70 x 100 centimeter format thanks to its range of automation components. The modular platform plays a key role in this.

Competitive edge: Customer benefits from Prinect Inpress Control and CutStar 
Prof-Press opted for the Prinect Inpress Control spectrophotometric inline measuring system. This module automatically measures and controls color and register in the press and forwards any necessary corrections directly to the Prinect Press Center control station. Process colors, spot colors and register in the quality control strip are factored into the calculation. The company is very impressed with the speed of makeready and the way it gets to top quality quickly and retains it throughout the run. 

The Speedmaster XL 105-8-P+L continuously runs at a speed of 15,000 sheets per hour and with CutStar provides an industrialized solution. The CutStar sheeter combines several advantages: It cuts paper costs because reel stock is less expensive than sheet stock and the variable cut-off length results in optimal use. It cuts production costs too because it increases the utilization levels of Speedmaster presses. There are further benefits relating to the storage area required for reels, and printing with single-web paper is also possible. The transition from web mode to sheet mode can be accomplished in a few minutes.

Prof-Press's General Manager Svyatoslav Gennadievich Shalai says that the purchase of a new press was part of the company's development plans. "The purchase of a new press fast became a vital need. We were dealing with a high work load, but had no time to print the orders. We had several offers for a new press, but finally focused on Heidelberg. In all aspects, Heidelberg CIS is the best partner in terms of consultancy and service. The new press gives us a competitive edge regarding shorter production and delivery times and stable high quality. I am certain, that more installations of presses like ours are to come in the Russian market. " Prof-Press concluded a service contract with Heidelberg comprising unlimited services and the supply of genuine service parts. 

Prof-Press, founded in 2002, mainly manufactures children's books as well as stationery. The company started with a workforce of nine and today occupies a staff of more than 300. The new Speedmaster XL 105-8-P+L works alongside further Heidelberg equipment: a Speedmaster SM 102-2-P, a Printmaster 74-4, four recently installed Polar cutters, a CtP Suprasetter A105, and a Stahlfolder KH 78 folding machine.