EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Dec. 7 -- Lifetouch Publishing, which produces yearbooks for elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country, recently installed a state-of-the-art Heidelberg printing press in its newest yearbook manufacturing facility in Loves Park, Illinois. Lifetouch Publishing, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lifetouch, Inc., is the only yearbook company in the country to install this cutting-edge press, which provides the highest-quality printing available for yearbooks. "We understand the importance and significance that yearbooks play in the lives of students of all ages," said Pat Hickey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lifetouch Publishing. "By continuing to find the newest and best technology in our field, we ensure that these school memories will last a lifetime and beyond." The Speedmaster 102 8-color press, purchased from international printing press manufacturer Heidelberg, is 52-feet long, 7-feet high, 11-feet wide and weighs 57 tons. It will take nearly a month to install the press and make it operational. The machine has eight printing units and can print four colors over four colors perfecting up to eight colors in line, or up to seven colors and Aqueous coating inline. The press can print on sheets ranging in size from 16 x 20 inches up to 28 x 40 inches at a speed of 13,000 sheets per hour. Lifetouch Publishing has made an ongoing commitment to keep its yearbook manufacturing capabilities at the head of the class. In addition to purchasing the Speedmaster 102-8, the company has added four Esko-Graphics computer-to- plate (CTP) devices, three new Heidelberg offset presses and new bindery equipment from Muller Martini and Horhauf. "This latest Heidelberg press enables us to streamline our processes and also produce a product that is second-to-none in our industry," said Dr. Glenn Bottomly, Senior Director of Manufacturing for Lifetouch Publishing. "By utilizing CTP devices, we are able to improve our quality and speed because we no longer use film in the printing process." The new Heidelberg press is the latest equipment installation for Lifetouch Publishing in Loves Park, Illinois, following a $12 million investment made in 2003 for its aggressive expansion into the secondary yearbook market. Lifetouch Publishing is the largest yearbook company in the country and leads the industry in collaborative yearbook publishing with its innovative online yearbook creation and management tools that were created in 1999. Lifetouch Publishing has printing plants in Loves Park, Illinois and Kansas City, Missouri and publishes more than 6 million yearbooks annually.