KENNESAW, Ga., - March 16, 2004 – Heidelberg announced today that Fort Dearborn Company, Niles, Ill., has used an automated Heidelberg Polar Autocut labeling system to increase productivity by more than 30 percent since its installation. Installed in May 2003 for its ability to handle high volume, single sku layouts for automatic cutting and handling, the POLAR Autocut system has improved productivity, reduced makeready and improved the overall quality of For Dearborn’s postpress department. The new Autocut system also enabled one pass throughput of complete lifts and eliminated huge standing areas of uncut skids. Since installation, Fort Dearborn has averaged a production rate of eight million labels per day, ranging from 300 to 10AA labels for some of the countries largest users of high quality product labels. “We chose the POLAR Autocut system because of its outstanding performance and capabilities along with its cost saving attributes,” said Bob Kester, general manager of the Fort Dearborn Niles facility. “We evaluated the products on the market and the Heidelberg automated system outperformed and had more features than the rest of the competition.” The POLAR Autocut from Heidelberg is a programmable, fully automatic single-strip cutter made by POLAR. This system combines the design of a multi-strip cutter with the proven technology built in to thousands of POLAR high-speed cutters. Fort Dearborn’s Autocut label system includes everything from strip positioning to alignment and delivery of finished banded products. Automated clamping and alignment add to the Autocut’s features and have made it one of the most popular and accurate label cutting systems in the world. Due to the improved performance compared to the older equipment it replaced, Fort Dearborn is in the process of installing an identical Autocut system in its Fort Worth plant as well. Having the same systems throughout the various facilities makes it easy for different operators to assist and communicate with one another. The standardization of equipment was one of the main problems and concerns within the organization and the installation of the POLAR Autocut systems will help to alleviate some of the bottlenecking taking place before the systems installation. “Heidelberg systems are designed with the customer in mind and the Autocut system is one of Heidelberg’s most effective finishing systems when it comes to operator friendly features and lowering make-ready times among users,” said Rob Kuehl, director, postpress, packaging and label systems for Heidelberg USA. “In the case of Fort Dearborn, we looked at their need for a standard set of guidelines throughout its network that could be incorporated into each and very system that is installed at the various facilities. We look forward to helping our customers succeed and developing new systems to do just that.” Fort Dearborn’s Niles Facility is a full service label printer that works with some of the countries largest companies including Del Monte, The Scott’s Company and Unilever. With more than 300 employees at its Niles facility, Fort Dearborn is one of the region’s largest print shops. The company also has nine operating divisions in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe and employs nearly 1,000 associates worldwide.