Eight Steps to Successful Color Management

New issue of “Profi Tip” available from the Print Media Academy

Vibrant colors true to the original on a top-class substrate make for high-quality print products. However, it is not always easy to achieve the required quality given the many different factors that impact on the print result. In order to ensure stable and reproducible print quality, users need to be able to identify and monitor each of these factors.

Practical tips for practical application
A new issue of “Profi Tip”, published by the Print Media Academy (PMA) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), indicates the most common problem areas and provides valuable tips for dealing with them in eight steps.
Starting with the selection of consumables and covering both test printing and monitoring of results, the publication looks at the various relationships in the production process.
“Profi Tip” is intended for personnel at printshops and prepress companies who encounter the problems and perils of color management on a daily basis and are looking for solutions.

The series already includes the following titles:
- Rollers in Inking and Dampening Systems
- Dampening Solutions in Offset Printing
- Problems in the Pressroom
- Coating, Drying and Powdering

Anyone who is interested can order the publications on the PMA website: www.print-media-academy.com

Further information on the Print Media Academy:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Print Media Academy
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 50 11
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 49 29
E-mail: pma-info@heidelberg.com

Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5910
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5069
E-mail: dirk.henrich@heidelberg.com

Schlaefli & Maurer AG, based in Interlaken (Switzerland), has placed a major order with Heidelberg Schweiz AG.

At the center of this is a five-color Speedmaster XL 145 with coating unit and a Suprasetter 145. This is the first large-format solution from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) for the Swiss market.

The order also includes a Speedmaster XL 105-5+L, a Stahlfolder 112 folding machine, a fully automated cutting line with Autojog, and a pile turner from Polar-Mohr.

The project has been long in the planning. During the evaluation process, identical test runs were carried out on presses from all established suppliers. The Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 145 ultimately won through thanks to its all-round, overall performance. The fact that the new press is based on the proven XL 105 platform reinforced the customer’s decision.

Details

In the future, plates will be output on a Suprasetter 145, which is also a first in Switzerland. The positive experience with the Suprasetter 105 and the test results from the large-format platesetter were key in the company’s decision.

One of Switzerland’s most state-of-the-art cutting lines from Polar-Mohr will be installed for setting up and cutting printed sheets. Its outstanding features include the Polar 155 XT high-speed cutter and cutting-edge peripherals such as the automatic Autojog jogger unit.

The new technology will be used for production at Schlaefli & Maurer AG’s new site in Uetendorf near Thun from spring 2010 onwards. The total investment is around 10 million Swiss francs.

Image 1 and 2:
The order from Interlaken-based Schlaefli & Maurer AG includes a Speedmaster XL 145 and a Suprasetter 145, making it the first large-format solution supplied by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG to Switzerland.

Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69

• Sales down 18 percent to EUR 2.999 billion
• No dividend payment planned
• Cost-cutting measures having a positive impact
• Fundamental credit approvals secure financing
• Prospects for 2009/2010: No short-term upswing in view
• Drop in sales and results expected for first quarter of 2009/2010

As a result of the global financial and economic crisis and the sharp decline in order levels in the mechanical engineering sector, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has recorded a sharp drop in sales and results for financial year 2008/2009.

“The 2008/2009 financial year was one of the most difficult in the company’s history. The positive start to the year with the drupa 2008 trade show was burdened in the following months with the global recession and the collapse in demand worldwide. Nonetheless, we succeeded in easing the effects of the crisis by implementing a raft of cost-cutting measures at an early stage and managed to create a basis for the future by making some – at times painful – cutbacks,” says Bernhard Schreier, Heidelberg CEO.

After the first quarter, the global economic crisis really weighed on the incoming orders for 2008/2009. These fell to EUR 2.906 billion for the year as a whole, some 20 percent down on the figure for the previous year (EUR 3.649 billion). Due to the worsening economic situation and the restrictive lending policy applied to print shops, demand fell sharply in the second half of the year in particular. This applies to all the markets around the globe on which Heidelberg operates.

In financial year 2008/2009, Heidelberg sales accordingly fell by 18 percent to EUR 2.999 billion (previous year: EUR 3.670 billion). Excluding restructuring costs, the operating result based on EBIT fell to EUR -49 million. Including restructuring costs, EBIT was EUR -228 million (previous year: EUR 268 million). The worsening of the financial result to EUR -119 million (previous year: EUR -69 million) can be attributed largely to a substantial rise in the refinancing requirements of Heidelberg in the past financial year. At EUR -249 million, the annual net loss was substantially down on the annual net profit for the previous year (EUR 142 million).

The free cash flow of the Heidelberg Group came to EUR -201 million for the year as a whole (previous year: EUR 215 million). A high cash outflow was recorded for the first half of the year in particular. However, the cash flow was positive again in the second half of the year as a result of the cost-cutting measures implemented.

Results in the Press, Postpress and Financial Services divisions
In the Press Division (offset printing), sales in the past financial year fell by approx. 18 percent to EUR 2.621 billion. Incoming orders were down 20 percent on the previous year at EUR 2.546 billion. The operating result for 2008/2009, including special items, amounted to EUR -193 million (previous year: EUR 239 million). In the Postpress Division (finishing), sales in the reporting year fell by around 17 percent to EUR 353 million. Incoming orders were down by around 20 percent to EUR 335 million. The operating result in this division for the period under review, including special items, was EUR -51 million (previous year: EUR -7 million). In the Financial Services Division, sales dropped by approx. 17 percent to EUR 25 million. The operating result for 2008/2009, including special items, amounted to EUR 16 million (previous year: EUR 36 million).

No dividend payment planned
In view of the sharp fall in sales and results in the period under review, the Supervisory Board and Management Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting that no dividend be distributed for the 2008/2009 financial year.

Cost-cutting measures having a positive impact
In response to the global economic crisis, Heidelberg implemented an initial package of cost-cutting measures last summer. By expanding this package in the fourth quarter of the last financial year, the company is aiming to achieve annual savings of around EUR 400 million up to financial year 2010/2011. The measures include plans to reduce personnel capacities by up to 5,000 jobs. Discussions with employee representatives and the labor union on the need to lower personnel costs were started in the first quarter of the current financial year.

Details

Overall, implementation of the cost-cutting measures is running to schedule. Savings of around EUR 84 million were made in financial year 2008/2009. With the entry of EUR 179 million, the costs for the complete package have been almost entirely accounted for in the past financial year.

Since the start of financial year 2008/2009, the company has reduced its staffing levels by around 1,700, including temporary workers. On March 31, 2009, the Heidelberg Group had a workforce of 18,926, including staff incorporated from new consolidations.

“We responded quickly to the difficult economic situation by introducing tough cost-cutting measures and are doing everything we can to make Heidelberg even less dependent on economic developments. As a result, Heidelberg is well placed to return to profitable growth and win further market share when the economic climate brightens,” explains Schreier.

Fundamental credit approvals secure financing
Heidelberg had entered into intensive talks with the financing banks based on a detailed financing concept, the type, scope and term of which essentially correspond to the previous financing structure. “Despite the difficult underlying conditions, Heidelberg has succeeded in renegotiating its current financing structure and securing the Group’s liquidity through fundamental credit approvals from the banks,” states the company’s CFO, Dirk Kaliebe. A prerequisite for implementing the financing concept is the granting of securities in line with the second package of measures, i.e., the “Pact for Employment and Stability in Germany” (the so-called Economic Stimulus Package II) and for the credit extended by the KfW (Reconstruction Loan Corporation), for which final approval is yet to be given. The relevant federal bodies have already indicated their agreement in principle, and the company is expecting a decision from Baden-Würtemberg’s Economic Committee shortly. “With this support, we will be able to bridge the period of the financial market crisis. In view of the expected credit approvals by our banks, we continue to have a solid financial framework in place,” resumes Schreier, adding: “This will secure the future, the innovative strength and technology leadership of Germany as a force in the printing press industry.”

Prospects for the future: Financial year 2009/2010 will remain difficult
Heidelberg does not expect the economic situation to improve significantly in financial year 2009/2010. The company does not anticipate print shop investments in some industrial countries to pick up in the months ahead. Incoming orders are also predicted to remain at the low level recorded for the last two quarters. In view of this assessment and the low order backlog, Heidelberg forecasts a further drop in sales for the current financial year. The further decline in sales in the current year will once again lead to low profit contributions and thus weigh on the operating result. This is being counteracted by the package of measures the company was quick to introduce. The sharp rise in refinancing costs, which also include the cost of the guarantees under the Economic Stimulus Package II, will cause Heidelberg to post high costs that will also weigh on the financial result for the current financial year. As a result of these costs in particular, the company predicts another negative result for the 2009/2010 financial year.

As a result of the substantial drop in the order backlog, which amounted to approx. EUR 650 million at the end of financial year 2008/2009, Heidelberg expects a considerable fall in sales for the first quarter of the current financial year 2009/2010, both against the last two quarters of the reporting year and the same quarter of the previous year. This development can presumably only be partly compensated by the ongoing cost-cutting measures, so that the company expects a clearly negative operating result in the first quarter of 2009/2010.

The German version of the 2008/2009 Annual Report can be accessed at 7 a.m. on June 9, 2009 at www.heidelberg.com.

The tables as well as up-to-date images are gathered on the Internet Press Lounge at www.heidelberg.com.

Other dates:
The figures for the first quarter of financial year 2009/2010 are due to be published on August 11, 2009.

Image 1:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Bernhard Schreier, CEO Bernhard Schreier at the annual press conference For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 59 00
Mobile: +49 (0)173 318 69 47
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69

Http://www.heidelberg.com ]]> http://pressmarts.com/products/heidelberg-financial-year-20082009-financial-market-crisis-hits-the-industry-and-the-economy-as-a-whole/feed/ 0 http://pressmarts.com/products/speedmaster-xl-105-enables-double-sided-printing-and-coating-in-a-single-pass/ http://pressmarts.com/products/speedmaster-xl-105-enables-double-sided-printing-and-coating-in-a-single-pass/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:52:18 +0000 admins http://pressmarts.com/products/?p=4 Speedmaster XL 105 Enables Double-sided Printing and Coating in a Single Pass

06/15/2009

First Speedmaster XL 105 in the U.S. with 16 units and almost 38 meters long goes into production
Exceptional cost-effectiveness through enhanced productivity and flexibility
One Pass Productivity – for cost-effective production

Details
U.S. printshop K & D Graphics in Orange, California, has been using one of the world’s longest sheetfed offset presses since the end of last year.

The Speedmaster XL 105-6+LYY-P-6+L (UV) with CutStar from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is the first Speedmaster XL 105 that can print and coat on both sides in a single pass. Together with two drying units and the CutStar sheeter, the press is almost 38 meters (125 feet) long.

K & D Graphics is renowned for its high-quality print products in the commercial and packaging sectors. “With this new press, I have finally fulfilled my dream and we can expand our capacity in premium packaging printing,” explains Don Chew, President of K & D Graphics. “We now process sheeted paper and reel stock, coat both sides inline, and thus save a great deal of setup time.

The new coating options have already enabled us to win a number of new customers who, along with our regular customers, have been impressed with the enhanced productivity and very high flexibility,” he adds. The coating units also make double-sided spot coatings possible. “Using the new press, we can produce a job with a run of 700,000 sheets in single-shift operation in only five days. This previously took us about three weeks on our single-side Speedmaster CD 102 six-color press,” says Chew, who is more than happy with his investment. The new Speedmaster is also used for commercial printing and is supported in this regard by Prinect Prepress Interface. K & D Graphics also utilizes Saphira consumables from Heidelberg. These are perfectly geared to the printshop’s complex requirements and ensure optimum print results and maximum production speeds.

K & D Graphics was founded in 1982 as a garage printshop and today employs over 50 staff. This full-service printshop uses two other Speedmaster CD 102 six-color presses, a Polar cutting system, a TH 82 folding machine, a ST 450 saddlestitcher, and a new Diana X 135 folder gluer.

One Pass Productivity – for cost-effective production
Double-sided coating enhances the scratch and scuff resistance of the product, thus offering an enormous benefit for the postpress stage. The appearance of print products is enhanced, with reduced powder application also improving the feel of the products, and UV coatings enabling optimum gloss results.

Double-sided coating in a single pass on the Speedmaster XL 105 LPL is a logical development of the Peak Performance Platform from Heidelberg. The conventional version of the Speedmaster XL 105 was unveiled at drupa 2004, followed by the UV version and the double-coating option in 2006. The Speedmaster XL 105 with perfecting device was presented to the public at drupa 2008. Double-sided coating is currently only available for the UV versions. The first conventional press in this configuration is to be installed at a European customer’s in summer 2009.

Image:
Don Chew, President of K & D Graphics, produces with the first Speedmaster XL 105 that can print and coat on both sides in a single pass. The press is made up of 16 units and is almost 38 meters long.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 99 50 66
E-mail: hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com

•    Heidelberg sells 30th CombiStar Pro energy-saving combination unit
•    Electricity consumption cut by up to 50 percent a year
•    Protect the environment and save money

Details

Eukerdruck GmbH & Co KG in Marburg, Germany, has taken delivery of the 30th CombiStar Pro energy-saving combination unit.

The system was successfully put into operation at the company on the new Speedmaster XL 105-8 P. Just one year after market launch, demand has exceeded the expectations of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and, from fall of this year, the unit will be available worldwide.

The CombiStar Pro is a high-end version of the CombiStar combination unit, expanded to include numerous energy-saving functions. Like the CombiStar, the system is used for controlling the press’ temperature and supplying it with dampening solution. The Pro version works like an intelligent refrigerator and employs the free cooling principle. If it is cool enough outside the print shop, the press’ inking unit is cooled using only this external source. This is performed using an air-water heat exchanger and with minimal energy consumption. The refrigerating unit is only activated at temperatures over 20 degree Celcius. Control is automatic and printers do not have to concern themselves with anything.

“We have had the CombiStar Pro in operation on our Speedmaster XL 105-8 P for a short time now and have succeeded in making significant cuts in energy consumption in our pressroom,” says a delighted Dietrich Mägerlein, managing partner of Eukerdruck. The savings are not just reflected in the electricity bill – they also lower the company’s CO² emissions, thus ensuring eco-friendly production.

Eukerdruck has two plants in Marburg and focuses on the production and sale of pharmaceutical packaging materials in Germany and Europe. Each day, its more than 250 employees in Marburg produce over three million labels, four million packaging inserts, and 500,000 mini brochures.

Wilhelm Mägerlein acquired Eukerdruck as a commercial print shop with a staff of ten in 1950. Manfred Mägerlein took up the reins in 1960 and pursued a systematic strategy of focusing on the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. Today, Eukerdruck is managed by Manfred and his two sons Dietrich and Robert. The eldest son Christian spearheaded expansion into Saxony in 1992 and today manages Pharma Druck in Ottendorf-Okrilla near Dresden with his two brothers. With a workforce that will soon reach 50, Pharma Druck also produces labels, packaging inserts, and mini brochures for the pharmaceutical industry.

The eight new printing units at Eukerdruck increase the capacity of the existing two, four and six-color presses by around 50 percent, with the company achieving particular increases in efficiency in the production of multicolored packaging inserts and brochures.

The new Speedmaster XL 105-8-P is part of an investment program worth around ten million Euro that Eukerdruck and Pharma Druck are looking to implement in this financial year. This aims to enhance the already high quality and reliability of service for their more than 200 pharmaceutical customers through efficient production and innovative products.

Protecting the environment and saving money
The CombiStar Pro saves energy through free cooling of the inking unit and by using speed-regulated motors. The recooling pump, which links the entire press to the external cooler and is an integral part of the CombiStar Pro, can be speed-regulated.

In the German climate, the intelligent control of the CombiStar Pro leads to cuts in electricity consumption of up to 50 percent a year. The investment therefore pays for itself within a few years. This technology can also help protect the climate and cut costs in print shops in other countries with moderate or cool climates.

Extrapolated over all the 30 print shops that now use one of the eco-friendly CombiStar Pro units, over 500 tons of CO² can now be saved each year with this technology.

As well as its energy-saving functions, the CombiStar Pro also simplifies alcohol-reduced and alcohol-free printing. It achieves this thanks to its two-stage dampening solution filtration, which is also sold separately under the FilterStar name, and a high-precision metering system for dampening solution additives.

The lower the alcohol content in the dampening solution, the more important it is to have precise metering of additives. The slightest variations can lead to problems in printing, which is why Heidelberg has designed the metering unit in the eco-friendly CombiStar Pro combination unit to deliver a metering accuracy of +/- 0.1 percent. In the event of problems, additional sensors and trend analysis help locate and eliminate the cause.

Heidelberg made environmental protection a corporate objective back in 1992. This issue has continued to gain in significance, proving time and again that sustainability and economic success are not mutually exclusive. It is for this reason that Heidelberg has set up a dedicated area on its website, providing a whole range of information on the subject of sustainability – the HEI ECO website.

Image:
Dietrich Mägerlein (left), managing partner of Eukerdruck GmbH & Co. KG in Marburg, and Lars Dresmann, head of production at Plant I, in front of the new CombiStar Pro energy-saving combination unit. The 30th unit in this system was successfully put into operation there on the new Speedmaster XL 105-8 P.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 99 50 66
www.heidelberg.com