KENNESAW, Ga. – October 27, 2004 – Heidelberg USA, as part of its ongoing commitment to the education and proliferation of the print media industry, donated several pieces of new Heidelberg equipment to the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) at Graph Expo/Converting Expo 2004 in Chicago. During a special ceremony in the Heidelberg booth, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Chief Executive Officer Bernhard Schreier presented PIA/GATF Chairman John Green, PIA/GATF President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Makin and PIA/GATF Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer George Ryan with the significant donation of prepress and postpress equipment. The list included a Stahl TH 66 folder, a Polar 137 XT cutter with System 2, Prinect Compucut and Prinect FCS 100. Heidelberg supplies the use of the equipment to GATF for its research and industry education programs. Currently, GATF houses three Heidelberg presses, an older Stahl folder and Polar cutter as well as an abundance of prepress equipment. As the certification body for North America, GATF tests products for JDF compliance. In addition to serving as a platform for certification, the newly donated equipment will be used to develop a report analyzing the increased return on investment that JDF-compliant equipment can provide. It is anticipated that the report, which will focus on improved makereadies and waste reduction, will be released in the early months of 2005. Through its donations to GATF, Heidelberg is simultaneously supporting GATF, JDF and the broader graphic arts industry. “Heidelberg is firmly committed to the growth of the industry,” said George Ryan, chief operations officer at GATF. “The company continues to play a significant role in our organization because it understands the importance of industry standards. This donation will go a long way toward helping printers adopt one standard that will enable them to advance and innovate as they should.” Through the donation to GATF, Heidelberg maintains its position at the forefront of education initiatives in the graphic communications industry. Highlights of Heidelberg’s education initiatives follows: •Heidelberg donates equipment to the Rochester Institute of Technology, Cal Poly, Clemson and other schools on an annual basis in order to support the development of management trainees. Currently, there is $8 million to $10 million worth of Heidelberg equipment on loan to various schools and programs throughout North America. •Heidelberg supports the SkillsUSA Competition in Graphic Communications. Heidelberg has been an annual sponsor of this international trade skills competition since 1999. Heidelberg awards the winners of the competition and their teachers with scholarships, the use of Heidelberg equipment and a trip to Graph Expo. Heidelberg also installs a new two-color Printmaster QM 46 press at each of the schools where the winners are enrolled at the time of the competition. Each school may use the press for one year to expose students on the secondary and junior college level to the Graphic Arts industry. •Heidelberg employs a number of interns from Clemson University each semester to work at the company’s United States headquarters in Kennesaw, Ga. The internship provides students on the graphic arts track an opportunity to gain experience in a business environment. This year Heidelberg brought both current and past interns to Graph Expo, allowing the students to network with other manufacturers and printers and learn about the latest technologies. “At Heidelberg, we are dedicated to supporting education and research throughout the industry,” said Larry Kroll, vice president of print media relations. “We realize that contributing to the development of vocational skills and supporting the curriculum on the primary and secondary levels is a valuable investment towards the future of the graphic arts industry.”