Kennesaw, GA – Two years after the installation of a Speedmaster CX 102, Ryan Printing, Inc. (Blauvelt, New York) has cut makeready times in half, increased its amount of short run work and broadened its customer base.

From Two to One

Originally purchased to replace a CD 74, the new press was intended to run alongside an existing SM 74. A year after the installation, however, the CX 102 was already producing the work of both half-size presses prompting the shop to sell its SM 74. 

“The speed and makereadies have made us extremely competitive in the both the short run and long run market,” said Al Ryan, President.  “The press comes up to color quickly, thanks to Inpress Control, and our makereadies are under 10 minutes —less than half of what they were before. We consistently produce 15-20 makereadies in an 8 hour shift.”

Best of Both Worlds

Handling a broad range of substrates from light-weight paper to cardboard, the Speedmaster CX 102 has all the flexibility needed to handle packaging, labels or high-quality commercial jobs. Maximum production speeds of 16,500 sheets per hour and quick makereadies make this highly efficient machine an ideal investment to ensure profitable production.

“Imagine a high-end fashion designer that requires 10,000 12x36 brochures with process, spot PMS and aqueous coating, but also needs 5 additional versions in different languages in the 300-500 run-length range,” said Ryan. “This is the press that can handle it. Just last week, we produced 22 different versions of a 24x36 poster at 200 sheets each for a camera company. ”

According to Ryan, it doesn’t stop there. “The speed of the press is amazing. Once you start producing 16,500 sheets an hour, the press can easily produce tens of thousands of sheets with perfect color consistency. [Right after producing the posters], we printed 900,000 6x10 folded packaging inserts for another company.”

Equipped to Handle It All 

Alongside the CX 102, the New York printer also installed a Suprasetter A106 CtP device, which Ryan describes as having “a huge impact on productivity” due to the high degree of automation and “a minimal impact on the environment.”

Likewise, the recently upgraded bindery consisting of a trio of Stahlfolders (TH 82, TH 56 and B 20) and a pair of POLAR cutting systems has allowed the shop to fold 16-page signatures and cut full size printed sheets. All of these upgrades combined have helped keep pace with the production of the press and eliminate bottlenecks in postpress.

A Partner from Day One

Ryan Printing, Inc. has been a partner with Heidelberg since opening its doors in 1992. Beginning with a MOZP, the company has grown with Heidelberg running a GTOV, SM 74 and CD 74 —all of which have been replaced by the existing CX 102.

“Heidelberg has been there for us every step of the way,” said Ryan. “We appreciate our past success and are thoroughly enjoying our present day accomplishments through our partnership— we are excited and optimistic about the future of our business and the innovative solutions to come from Heidelberg.” 

Ryan Printing, Inc. serves a local and regional clientele producing brochures, newsletters, slipcovers, postcards, catalogs, stationery and direct mail pieces. Services include offset, digital, and wide-format printing, and fulfillment. Markets range from financial to fashion and real estate. The shop, which employs a lean workforce of 25, was ranked the number one commercial printer-manufacturer by Inc. Magazine on its 2012 and 2013 list of America's 5000 fastest growing companies.