Melbourne-based Eastern Press invested in a new Speedmaster XL 75 five-color press with coater from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). The press replaces a five-color Speedmaster SM 74 and complements the company's digital arsenal. The company's recent purchases also include an Anicolor Speedmaster press.

Frank Hilliard, Management Director of Eastern Press, is not one to shy away from change. Having run Eastern Press successfully for more than 25 years, this industry veteran believes that to stay in business you need to be prepared to alter your business model as market trends shift.

This philosophy is behind his decision to install the new Speedmaster XL 75. Frank believes this new press will enable his company to more effectively meet the on-demand requirements of the market and provide his customers in the A2/A3 markets with a more efficient service.

Frank says Eastern Press is evolving from a print, store and dispatch company to an on-demand print service. This major investment is designed to expedite this transition and the XL 75 fits perfectly into this scenario he says.

"With today's turnaround times - print in the morning and deliver in the afternoon - you need a super efficient machine. We chose the XL 75 with coater because it will allow us to maintain our quality mandate, and at the same time turn around work very quickly."

He continues. "We operate in the medium to high quality print space and often produce jobs that require heavy ink coverage. Without a coater, these jobs have to be left overnight to dry before we can do anything with them. We anticipate the XL 75 with coater will speed up the process considerably".

The most significant shift the 30-staff company has seen in recent times are customers moving away from the print, store and dispatch model of print management to ordering as needs dictate. Frank Hilliard is an advocate for this model. "When you weigh up the cost of printing and storing large quantities against the efficiency of today's make-readies and print speeds there is little reason to continue to print the way we have in the past. All the new equipment we are purchasing is geared towards making that transition, profitably. And it will also help us to reduce waste. I'd estimate around 20 per cent of the print we store for customers ends up being discarded".

Eastern Press has had a long-term relationship with Heidelberg and is well known for collecting accolades: The company continued its award winning success at the 2010 Victorian Print Industry Awards, collecting three gold medals for calendars, presentation folders, booklets, catalogues and magazines.

Figure: Managing Director Frank has run Eastern Press successfully for more than 25 years. The industry veteran believes that to stay in business you need to be prepared to alter your business model as market trends shift.

For further information about the company and image material, please visit the Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.