PRINT 09 in Chicago was all about the large-format presses for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). Following the successful installation of a Speedmaster XL 145 at the packaging printer Proteus in Wisconsin, the company sold a further three large-format presses at the trade show. Bell, Inc. in South Dakota purchased a Speedmaster XL 162 six-color press with coating unit, while a U.S. packaging conglomerate bought two further VLF presses.

Extra productivity generates crucial competitive edge
The increase in productivity throughout the production process played a key role in the latest business deals. For example, the high-performance Prinect Press Center control station coupled with the Intellistart operating software and integrated wallscreen cuts the number of steps required by up to 70 percent. This not only impressed the customers who purchased the large-format presses, it also netted Heidelberg the InterTech Award 2009 from the Printing Industries of America (PIA) in the run-up to the trade show.

Considerable interest among specialists
Although the total number of visitors fell short of the figures recorded in previous years, Heidelberg identified a large proportion of serious potential customers on the look-out for solutions for specific projects. Heidelberg used this opportunity to showcase the most comprehensive range of products and services in the industry and focused particular attention on its solutions for fully-integrated print production. Practical demonstrations at the booth gave visitors the opportunity to see for themselves how the individual components interact and how this generates benefits for customers.