May 24, 2005 -- As of summer 2005, Heidelberg is also supplying the Speedmaster CD 74 as a long perfecting press with up to ten printing units and an additional coating unit. The company unveiled the Speedmaster CD 74 with up to six colors and perfecting device at drupa 2004 in Dusseldorf. This press, the first of its kind worldwide, enables high-quality perfecting printing with short changeover times between paper and board and between straight and perfecting modes. Initial customer installations have all proved successful and highlight the potential offered by the CD 74 with perfecting device in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness. To meet customer demands for features that will set them apart from their competitors, a long perfecting press is now being launched as part of the series. It is also available with integrated UV technology for diverse coating and surface finishing options, boosting the flexibility of this press even further. It is capable of printing four- or five-color jobs in a single pass on printing stocks ranging from 0.03 mm (0.0012 in) thick paper to 0.8 mm (0.03 in) thick board. The UV model even prints films and plastic cards. With a maximum production speed of 15,000 sheets per hour, fast makereadies and its high level of automation, the press is well suited for commercial, packaging and label printers. "The Speedmaster CD 74 eight-color press enabled us to boost our productivity by up to 30 percent," says Kurt Paredis, CEO of Belgian printshop Haletra. As a field test customer, this printshop received one of the first long perfecting presses worldwide. "Smooth sheet travel, a reliable sheet reversing process and the ability to use a diverse range of printing stocks are all impressive features," continues Paredis. Consequently, the printshop can now offer its customers a wide range of print products with short delivery times, sometimes even within 24 hours. UK printshop Hickling & Squires is also delighted with its Speedmaster CD 74 eight-color press. "Makeready times are extremely short and the quality is exceptional," says CEO Richard Wells. "We process high grammages including board and the Preset feeder is both simple and quick to set, which in turn increases our productivity," continues Wells. At present, 75 percent of the printshop's orders are 4/4 jobs. As a result, ! says Wells, the CD 74 8-P is exactly the right press for the company. The presses in the CD 74 range are available in two format variations - F format for packaging printing 60.5 cm x 74 cm (23.82 in x 29.13 in) and C format for commercial printing 53 cm x 74 cm (20.87 in x 29.13 in). Offset-Druck GmbH Mecklenburg, a printshop based near Lübeck, Germany, utilizes a Speedmaster CD 74 five-color press with perfecting device, coating unit and extended delivery. "The F format enables us to print twice as many repeats on a print sheet for certain products like CD covers," says CEO Jens Zehl. Thanks to optimum utilization of the print sheet, the company has managed to increase its productivity by up to 50 percent. Zehl is extremely impressed by the short makeready time offered by the CD 74 and its easy operation via the Prinect CP2000 press control system. The successful printshop is continuing to grow and has already ordered its next press – a Speedmaster CD 74 eight-color model with perfecting device and coating unit. The long perfecting presses and combined perfecting printing from Heidelberg demonstrate the company's concept of providing modular and flexible presses that can be customized to suit customer requirements. In fall this year, UK printshop Browns CTP took delivery of a CD 74 with twelve printing units – the longest press in the medium format sector. This specially produced press is also being delivered with the CutStar sheeter which processes less expensive reel stock.