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.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Silke Wolf
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5061
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5069
E-Mail:
silke.wolf@heidelberg.com