Indianapolis, Indiana — Don’t talk downturn at Litho Press, Inc. The $5 million commercial printer is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the successful introduction of a new ROLAND 700 press that is acting as a drawing card for new business. The 41-inch six-unit-plus-coater system, which was installed last autumn, gives Litho Press the ability to offer a broad range of products. As a result, the company is never at a loss for work. "It’s all about customer service — giving the customers what they want whenever they want it," explains Bernie Lacy, Vice President, who runs the company in conjunction with his father Jack, Litho Press’ President and his brother John, a Vice President. "Because of the fast makeready times and the wide range of stocks and plastics we can run on the ROLAND 700, the press increases our capabilities and gives our customers more products and options from which to choose." And choose they do. A look at the Litho Press website (www.lithopress.com) reveals a depth, quality and variety of work that would be the envy of much larger facilities: - A corporate section contains richly illustrated books for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. - Point-of-Purchase (POP) pages show signage promoting Reece’s and M&M’s specials for a national theater chain. - Posters and art reproductions are represented by a tribute to a national park, a fine art print and a Disney Cruise Line promotion. - Packaging work is illustrated by a color-on-black case of Jim Beam. - A Hi-C page highlights the company’s litho label and folding carton capabilities. The entire range can be printed on Litho Press’ new ROLAND 700 because the press is built from the ground up to handle virtually any type of substrate, ranging from 1 pt. up to 40 pt. "We can print on onion skin flysheet paper all the way up to microflute board," Lacy notes. "We also print on plastics, styrenes, static clings, and Cling-Z's." The company, which operates a 36,000 sq ft facility with a staff of 25, also runs a four-color 64-inch press with an aqueous coater. But the new MAN Roland has become the facility’s hot ticket. "The UV/aqueous coater on the 700 brings in work in its own right," Lacy says. "UV coating is especially important for packaging printing, where the high gloss and superior durability are often required. It also comes in handy when we print plastics as well, because when a UV coating is applied, the sheet comes off the press completely dry." Litho Press’ 700 is equipped with MAN Roland’s PECOM automated operating system. It also has Power Plate Loading (PPL) to shorten the distance between jobs. Lacy notes that Litho Press has been so busy handling new orders since the ROLAND 700 has come on line that the company hasn’t really had time to market the new press. Litho Press does have a stealth marketing program in effect, however, in the form of its well-structured and cleanly designed website. "We are getting leads from the Internet," Lacy declares. "Recently we had a representative from Sears call for a quote, and she browsed our site while she was waiting for the estimate. I think it helped us get the project. Having a website gives you national credibility; you’re not just a voice on the phone." The Litho Press sales force also gets high marks from Lacy for helping the company fill its new capacity: "We don’t have sales reps who just go out, open accounts and move on. They also work as CSRs for their customers. They’re here for the print run and watch over every aspect of each client’s job. That way, every client has a main contact and that person handles everything." And as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, Litho Press now has a production system that handles everything as well. Says Lacy: "Our only problem with the 700 is that all of our press operators want to run it."