KENNESAW, Ga., September 20, 2007 – Heidelberg is hailing Graph Expo 2007 a success, marked by its new HEI Tech theme and booth design; new product launches; two InterTech Technology Awards; seven Executive Outlook Conference awards; consistently high booth traffic; and sales and lead generation that exceeded pre-show company targets.
“We're extremely pleased with the customer interest we saw in our booth at Graph Expo,” said Jim Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA. “Customers are embracing Heidelberg technology with clarity and confidence, and they are seeing it as an integral part of their workflow that results in higher quality and efficiency across the print shop.”
Heidelberg’s flagship press, the Speedmaster XL 105-6+LX, was once again a highlight of the show, having consistently won awards since its launch at drupa 2004. Prior to Graph Expo, the XL 105 won a PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Award. This marked the first time in more than five years that a 40-inch sheetfed press has earned such a distinction for the performance of the entire press rather than for individual features. It also was recognized for a second year with an Executive Outlook Conference award. The XL 105 is known for its fast makeready times and real production speeds of 18,000 sheets per hour.  The press shown at Graph Expo was equipped with Prinect Inpress Control, the first inline device for sheetfed presses that uses spectrophotometry to measure color and control registration on the fly, even when the press is running at full speeds.
The Speedmaster SM 52-4+LX press with Anicolor also won a PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Award. Heidelberg’s Anicolor is a zoneless short inking unit that brings the fastest makereadies and highest color consistency to sheetfed offset printing. Target ink densities are usually reached in less than 20 sheets, making very short runs profitable and reducing waste.
To give booth visitors a first-hand customer perspective of Anicolor’s benefits, Heidelberg hosted an Anicolor Experience interview with the first U.S. user in its booth during the show. A large crowd gathered to hear from the Taylor Corporation of North Mankato, Minnesota, the first U.S. printer to incorporate Heidelberg’s Anicolor technology into its pressroom. Taylor Corporation already has installed four Anicolor presses with another two on the way this fall. Craig Krone, Taylor Corporation’s vice president of Information and Technologies for Personalized Business Products, told the crowd, “Anicolor does everything Heidelberg said it would do.”
In addition to these award-winning presses, Heidelberg showcased a number of new products and solutions at this year’s Graph Expo, including eCall, the latest systemservice technology. This innovative new service earned Heidelberg a 2007 “Must See ‘Em.”  Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Management Board Member for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberg, introduced eCall at Heidelberg’s press conference, explaining how the revolutionary service offering automatically generates an alarm on the Prinect CP2000 Center console of a Heidelberg press when there is an impending service issue. With the touch of a button, the operator can send the pertinent data directly to the Heidelberg systemserviceorganization and a preliminary diagnosis is performed. A technician will then call the customer with a detailed analysis. eCall saves printers time because they don’t have to wait on hold or spend time explaining the problem in detail. The service will be available in pilot markets, including the United States, beginning in January 2008.
Introduced at Ipex, and new to the North American market, Heidelberg demonstrated its FoilStar cold-foil technology, which produces metallic effects inline. Available for the Speedmaster CD 74, CD 102 and XL 105 presses, it now offers the capability of processing cold foil with up to six variable web widths.
In addition to eCall, the XL 105 and SM 52 with Anicolor, several other products were recognized by the Executive Outlook Committee, including Saphira Chemfree Thermal Plates, Prinect Integration System/Pressroom Manager, Speedmaster SM 102 8-color long perfector with the new Preset Plus Delivery for perfecting and coating and with CutStar CAN and the POLAR P.A.C.E. cutting system.
Heidelberg also debuted new additions to its expanding line of packaging solutions. In addition to its proven press solutions, the new Varimatrix 105 CS die-cutter drew interest from small- and medium-sized packaging businesses for its flexible and cost-effective die-cutting and embossing. Also on display at the show, Heidelberg’s ECO 105 folding carton gluer was recognized as an ideal solution for both small and large business owners entering into professional folding carton gluing.
To further emphasize its focus on packaging, Heidelberg hosted approximately two hundred guests at a panel discussion titled, “What are package and label buyers asking for?”  Jim Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA, led the panelists, including: Joe Duncan of Leo Burnett; David Luttenberger of Packaging Strategies; Michael Neugart, managing director of POLAR-Mohr; Kilian Renschler, vice president, packaging, Heidelberg; Tim Doan of Eurostampa; and Bill Woods of The EPI Companies. The panelists discussed the critical impact of packaging on company brands, print buyers’ growing interest in new substrates, the challenge of ensuring color consistency across the globe, new security measures and sustainability, among a host of other topics.
While Heidelberg stressed its product solutions, it also demonstrated its strong partnership with customers with the announcement of its new Business Development Group.  Led by Senior Vice President Steen Jensen, Heidelberg’s Business Development Group helps customers measure their business’ profitability and productivity, and then delivers an analysis of their current manufacturing operations. Analysis for five customers has been completed and another 15 projects are in the pipeline.
Heidelberg also participated in two hallmark events of Graph Expo. The print leader once again was a sponsor of the 20th Annual Gold Ink Awards & Hall of Fame Gala. Two Heidelberg customers became Printing Impressions/RIT Hall of Fame inductees: Tim Poole, president of Dome Printing in Sacramento, California and David Torok, president of Padgett Printing in Dallas, Texas. The prestigious awards recognize the country’s most influential creators of printed work.
Heidelberg also sponsored the Premier Print Awards, which issues the prestigious Benny award to the finest print in the world. Since 1950, printing companies from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, Hong Kong, and other nations from around the world enter the Premier Print Awards. Several Heidelberg customers were recipients of this year’s awards. For a complete list, visit gain.net.
On the educational front, Larry Kroll, vice president of Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy, represented Skills USA at the annual Education Summit. Kroll said the panel of ten from a cross-section of the print industry agreed on three things: the print industry continues to be fragmented in its support of education; there is a need for unified support of educated and skilled trained operators; and the industry continues to lose talented young people to other industries. Heidelberg is committed to continuing to work with the industry to address these issues and help educate and excite the next generation graphic arts workforce.
Following a successful Graph Expo, Heidelberg is focused on the upcoming drupa 2008 show, where the company will unveil several new exciting solutions in prepress, postpress and press, including its highly anticipated VLF sheetfed presses.