The newly developed Speedmaster CD 74 is a medium-format straight printing press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), available with four, five, six and eight printing units plus a coating system. These models have double-diameter impression cylinders and air transfer to ensure the reliable transport of a wide range of printing stock. The preset feeder with central suction tape, highly responsive inking units, Alcolor Vario dampening systems and the CP2000 Center are further key features of this series. The Speedmaster CD 74 was introduced at drupa 2000. The field trial phase, conducted in close cooperation with selected customers, has been concluded and the press went into series production in December 2000. Highly versatile and easy to operate Heidelberg developed the Speedmaster CD 74, in part, for packaging printshops printing ever smaller runs of cosmetic and pharmaceutical packaging and/or labels. Specialty businesses can use the press to produce plastic cards and tags. The machine is also ideal for general commercial and mixed businesses that often swap between paper, cardboard and different formats. The Speedmaster CD 74 offers these target groups a high level of automation. This is reflected in minimum makeready times and ease of use both during setup and production. This means significant savings in terms of time, waste and money. Since the press is controlled via the CP2000 Center, it can also be fully integrated into the workflow. The fact that functionality and aesthetics can be successfully combined in mechanical engineering is demonstrated by the Speedmaster CD 74. In January 2001 the Speedmaster CD 74 received the ”Top Ten Award” from the Industrie Forum Design Hannover. From 1,320 new products, the panel of judges chose the Speedmaster CD 74 as one of the ten best designs. Heidelberg offers the Speedmaster CD 74 in two formats - the packaging format (60 x 74 cm) and the conventional commercial printing format (53 x 74 cm). The larger packaging format allows a higher number of repeats per sheet. With the commercial printing format (53 x 74 cm), the Speedmaster CD 74 is ideal for commercial and mixed printers who already use a Speedmaster SM 74. The printing plates can be exchanged between the two presses, complementing each other and adding the printshop an added degree of flexibility