Displaying items by tag: Print

Lean manufacturing - getting fit to combat the recession

While some branches of industry are already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the consequences of the financial crisis are still very much in evidence in the printing industry. This being the case, it is more important than ever to optimize and ensure the sustainability of cost-effective print shop operation. The key is to streamline core production equipment to achieve maximum benefits and to avoid waste wherever possible.

In the latest issue of its customer magazine, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG highlights why effective lean manufacturing is a good way of combating the recession. For instance, Heidelberg News No. 269 takes the example of the French print shop Baudat to demonstrate how a Speedmaster SM 74 can be used for efficient and eco-friendly production of high-quality print media. In addition, the magazine reports how, thanks to a visit from the Pope and its highly productive Speedmaster XL 105, Slovakian print shop i + i print is leading the way on a fiercely competitive market. Readers will also discover how Norwegian print shop Moltzau Plasttrykk has practically reinvented itself, emerging from its worst ever crisis as one of the country's leading packaging printers.

Another article describes the efficiency improvements that packaging printers can achieve with the new Dymatrix 106 Pro CSB. Heidelberg News also investigates how Heidelberg Systemservice provides an effective response to the totally unexpected breakdown of such a highly reliable die cutter at Faltschachtelwerk Hammer-Lübeck. Last but not least, it takes a look at the successful web-to-print business of German company printoo GmbH and asks the sprightly typography legend Kurt Weidemann about the purpose of this art form in modern times.
The current issue also includes a 20-page supplement with information about the innovations that Heidelberg will be showcasing at IPEX 2010 (May 18 - 25 in Birmingham, U.K.).

Issue 269 of Heidelberg News is available now. Copies for your own use can be ordered under www.heidelberg-news.com or requested by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or faxing +49 (0)6221 92 50 42.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 59 10
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 96
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Itaú has also started an education program to promote the benefits of FSC certification among partners and employees. Itaú’s commitment to FSC confirms the increasing awareness of FSC among Brazilian businesses and consumers. São Paulo’s daily newspaper Metro, with a circulation of over 150,000, is also printing on FSC paper.

Friends of the Earth – Brazilian Amazonia conducted a poll in 2009 to assess the knowledge of the population on environmental issues. Results showed that recognition of FSC among the Brazilian public has increased to 22% in 2009 from 1% in 2006. They also showed that 81% of the population would prefer certified forest products, and are willing to pay a little more than for non-certified products.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has completed the restructuring announced in November 2009 and identified further potential for improving efficiency. From April 1, 2010, the Group will be split into the Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services, and Heidelberg Financial Services divisions. "We are starting the new financial year with a leaner and more efficient organization. This will enable us to also provide our customers all over the world with a faster and more focused service," said CEO Bernhard Schreier. 
The company is also responding to the changing structures in the global print media industry by expanding the Heidelberg Services division in the future, which is relatively independent from economic cycles. The objective is to provide services that will help Heidelberg customers enjoy greater business success on a sustainable basis.

"The new structure has paved the way for Heidelberg to be even more powerful in the strategic core businesses of equipment and services," continued Schreier.

New corporate structure geared towards strategic core businesses and expected market volumes
The aims of the Heidelberg Equipment division are to build on the company's market-leading position in the commercial printing segment, and to achieve growth in packaging printing and the associated postpress operations. The new Heidelberg Services division also strengthens the company's claim to be the preferred service partner for print shops in the print media industry.

The company's restructuring has involved optimizing processes and streamlining the entire organization. This will result in the planned shedding of up to 450 jobs worldwide in administrative and sales.

The slight upward trend in the print media industry has continued over recent months, but no major upturn is as yet apparent. Heidelberg plans to adjust the production workforce so as to gear capacities to the continuing economic uncertainty in 2010. This will result in the loss of up to 400 jobs - primarily at the Wiesloch/Walldorf site.

From financial year 2011/2012, the lowering of structural and personnel costs will result in annual savings of approximately EUR 80 million. The plan is to achieve EUR 60 million of these savings already in financial year 2010/2011. Some EUR 30 million of the costs resulting from these job cuts will be additionally booked in financial year 2009/2010, with a further EUR 20 million to be booked in the next financial year.

"The order situation in the print media industry has stabilized over recent months. The higher demand is still coming mainly from emerging markets such as China and Brazil. There is no prospect of a significant increase in the industry's investment volume in 2010. We are adapting our company's capacities and structure accordingly. As a result, the level of sales at which we achieve an operational break-even result has been lowered once again, to less than EUR 2.5 billion. The objective of this measure is to achieve a break-even operating result for the next financial year assuming stable economic development and furthermore an economic value added (EVA) in all areas of business in the medium term," said Schreier. The company will provide at the earliest an outlook for the new financial year at the Annual Press Conference.

The company intends to negotiate the additional personnel adjustments with employee representatives and the union straight away.

Business at Heidelberg in the fourth quarter of the current financial year 2009/10 is in line with the company's expectations. As already forecasted, sales will be up slightly on the third quarter, which will also improve the operating result. Heidelberg will thus achieve its most recent forecast for 2009/2010 as a whole.

Heidelberg Services
In addition to its proven Heidelberg Systemservice and Original Heidelberg spare parts, the "Heidelberg Services" division offers customers worldwide Saphira consumables, Prinect software solutions - including plate imaging equipment - services, consultancy, and training at all levels, thereby helping print shops to enjoy long-term success. Key focal points include improving machine availability, boosting productivity, enhancing process efficiency, and providing consultancy services geared towards environmentally friendly printing. Customers around the globe have access to the Heidelberg service team, with around 4,500 employees in some 170 countries.

Heidelberg Equipment
The Heidelberg Equipment division offers products and technologies along the entire process and value added chain for print media companies in the commercial and packaging printing sectors. This division develops, produces, and markets precision presses - in the sheetfed offset format classes 35 x 50 cm (13.78 x 19.69 in) to 120 x 162 cm (47.24 x 63.78 in) - and postpress equipment. Innovation projects such as Linoprint - for customized decoration and labeling of folding cartons, labels, and blister packs based on inkjet technology - and printed organic layers round off the portfolio.

Heidelberg Financial Services
In an environment dominated by customers from small and medium-sized businesses, financial services are a great help when it comes to making economically astute investments in Heidelberg products. The associated opportunities and risks require unique know-how and transparency that has little to do with more traditional areas of business. All sales financing activities will still be combined in a dedicated segment. In addition to direct financing through one of the Group's own financing companies, this primarily involves putting customers at small and medium-sized companies in touch with Heidelberg financing partners.

For additional details, please visit the Internet Press Lounge at www.heidelberg.com.

Other dates:
Publication of the preliminary figures for financial year 2009/2010 is scheduled for May 11, 2010.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6221 92 5900
Fax: +49 6221 92 5069
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

The Print Media Academy (PMA) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will run the English-language  "Print Buyer University" for the third time from June 15th to 18th 2010.The four-day program in Heidelberg is tailor-made for marketing, purchasing and production professionals in advertising agencies, publishing companies and manufacturers who want to take offset print projects to a new level.

High quality of brochures, packaging or other print products is a key to successful marketing communication. The challenge is to usher a job through the procurement and production process while guaranteeing a high level of quality, regardless of where and when a job is printed. This requires outstanding expertise! The feedback from former Print Media Universities is that the know-how that participants receive in the workshops helps them to understand the value of print and to work together with their printers on a high level.

Whether the participants manage print projects for their own company or a client, they will benefit enormously from this program of information-packed seminars and workshops with emphasis on practical experience. The program will provide expert knowledge which is indispensable for professionals to oversee offset print projects and to achieve top quality, and which ideally supplements the expertise they already have in areas such as design, marketing or purchasing.

Participants also will be provided with guidance in applying international standards in drawing up job specifications and selecting providers. They will be able to judge print quality and to make "press pass" decisions with confidence.

The participants will gain an understanding of print in all its complexity straight from the best possible source: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world's largest manufacturer of printing equipment. They will benefit from the knowledge of print experts, who have extensive experience with sheetfed offset equipment and efficient production processes. The groups will be kept small to ensure effective learning. Heidelberg's technical facilities will be available for practical exercises involving actual pressruns. At the end of the program, participants will be certified as "Print Media Advisors" to document their ability to manage complex offset print projects.

The Print Buyer University will take place from June 15 to 18, 2010 in Heidelberg, Germany. Registrations are to be sent to the Print Media Academy by May 7, 2010. Detailed information and references are available at www.print-media-academy.com .

Global network and knowledge forum for the print media industry
The Print Media Academy was founded back in 2000 in Heidelberg and offers technical and management staff in the print media industry a comprehensive range of training courses tailored to the specific needs of the industry. High-profile speakers and trainers from the print media industry and business world impart information on the use of Heidelberg products, technological innovations, and successful management. The Print Media Academy portfolio includes one-off seminars, international management programs, advanced training, specialist congresses, and a range of publications.

The network is growing all the time and today comprises 19 PMA sites in 16 countries around the world. The Print Media Academy is represented in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Australia. In Europe, there are PMA sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Belgium, and now in the Netherlands. All the sites communicate regularly and share information on the latest trends in the print media industry. This makes it possible to develop the training program in close cooperation with one another and to tailor it to the specific regional requirements. In 2008, more than 21,000 participants took part in almost 2,500 training courses staged by the PMA network.

Contact & Enrolment
Print Media Academy Heidelberg
Silvia Becker
Phone: +49 (0) 6221 92 50 11
Fax: +49 (0) 6221 92 49 29
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information for journalists
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0) 6221 92  5910
Fax: +49 (0) 6221 92 5069
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For over a year now, the Trulli print shop in Vence has been using a Speedmaster XL 105 ten-color press with perfecting device. The press was ordered at drupa 2008 and was at that time the first press with this configuration in the whole of France.

"We wanted a competitive, high-performance press that would enable us to set ourselves apart from our competitors and boost our potential. The productivity, quality, and user-friendly operation of our new XL have exceeded all our expectations," sums up Sylvain Trulli. He and his brother Julien Trulli are in charge of the print shop. "80 percent of our orders are produced at a constant speed of 15,000 sheets per hour. With automatic presetting of the format and paper thickness at the feeder, and transfers between the units, perfecting device and delivery, we can process a whole range of different substrates between 56 and 600 grams. In addition, automatic setting of the perfecting device means we can switch from straight printing to perfecting mode very quickly. This high level of flexibility has enabled us to tap into new markets. Makeready times have been halved, regardless of the complexity of the job. We have also been able to cut the amount of waste considerably. Despite the crisis, we have increased production by 20 percent within the space of a year," continues Sylvain Trulli.

Founded by Michael Trulli in 1980, the print shop now supplies publishing houses, agencies, insurance companies, art galleries, and mail-order companies. The company began using the first Speedmaster SM 102 ten-color press in France as early as 1999. This has now been joined by a second long perfecting press of the XL generation. The product portfolio ranges from magazines and art books to brochures and leaflets. The full-service print shop employs 22 staff and has annual sales of EUR 5 million. Its postpress operations use a Stahlfolder TH-56 with six buckle plates, fully-automated Stahlfolder TH 82-6 buckle plate folder, and Polar 137 XT Autotrim high-speed cutter.

The Trulli print shop has held the printing industry's "Imprim'Vert" eco-label since 2008. The company's two-story premises cover an area of 6,000 m2, with all peripherals for the machines located on the lower floor. "As a result, we can work in a clean environment with no odors and far lower noise levels. That generates very positive feedback from customers and staff alike," confirms Sylvain Trulli. "Our XL 105 operates with zero percent alcohol for all jobs. It is also equipped with the CleanStar air extraction system that removes around 80 percent of powder emissions, and an automatic ink feed system from large drums that enables us to use approximately eight percent less ink per year. 99 percent of our waste is recycled and reused," continues Trulli. The Trulli print shop is in the process of applying for the "1.2.3. Environnement" certificate, the third certification level of which corresponds to ISO 14001.

Figure:
Sylvain (right) and Julien Trulli in front of the new Speedmaster XL 105 ten-color press that has exceeded all expectations in terms of quality, user-friendliness and improved productivity. With less waste and alcohol-free production, the press also helps to protect the environment.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sappi, the global manufacturer of sustainable paper, has been supporting graphic design for the non-profit community for ten years now. Because everybody has an idea that matters, Sappi has decided to open up its "Ideas That Matter" programme to a wider community of engaged citizens. As of today, not only graphic designers (professionals or students) but public and private non-profit organisations can now submit their print campaign(s) or other projects.

Some issues in today's world demand urgent response. This is why individuals or groups can apply at any time during the year. Sappi's Ideas That Matter judging committee will evaluate the applications all year round and award paper grants on an ad hoc basis. Grants in the form of tree planting can also take place, in an area that has suffered forest fire or to offset carbon emissions for example.

To be eligible, print campaigns, projects or CSR programmes must demonstrate an environmental, sustainable and / or humanitarian impact. This can include: reducing carbon emissions, environmental footprints, improving the quality of life of people or promoting prosperity by developing local economies and encouraging sustainability.

Students have in addition the opportunity to enter a separate annual Ideas That Matter competition, within their school's curriculum. The deadline for students' entries is 1st June 2010 with winners announced mid-July.

Manue Gheysen, European Marketing Initiatives Team Leader at Sappi, said: "Sustainability is everyone's concern today and the enhanced Ideas That Matter programme reflects this change in consciousness. Sappi papers are fully sustainable and serve as the ideal medium for initiatives which advocate people's well-being, the planet and prosperity. We much look forward to extending our support to more new and creative ideas, that matter."

Sectors eligible for entries, which apply to the annual student competition and the ongoing submission by professionals, include: agriculture, animals, energy, environment, forestation, healthcare, people, science, water and education.

For all details about the new format of Sappi's Ideas that Matter and how to enter, applicants can visit: www.sappiideasthatmatter.com or contact their local Sappi representative. To find out more about Sappi: www.sappi.com or Sappi on Facebook and LinkedIn.

More about Sappi

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Fine Paper Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its brands include Magno, HannoArt, Tempo, Quatro, Royal, Allegro, Era, EuroArt Plus, EuroBulk, Furioso, Galerie, Mega, as well as Cento and Tauro for the uncoated graphic papers. Algro, Leine and Parade are the brands for speciality labelling and packaging papers and boards.

Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. SFPE's mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes.

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE, JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 17,000 employees and manufacturing operations on four continents in 9 countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.

Isabelle Roche
Press & Media Relations
Coordinator
Tel: +32 2 676 97 25
Fax: +32 2 676 96 65
Mobile: +32 479 588 025

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Single Width Users Group (SWUG) will be taking its annual conference to Tamworth this year. The conference will begin on Friday, March 19 and conclude with the SWUG Awards gala presentation on the evening of Sunday, March 21. There will be no Monday morning conference sessions as in previous years.

The conference sessions will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, while the annual SWUG dinner will be held in the historic surroundings of Tamworth Town Hall.

Bob Lockley, SWUG president says, "This will be a great venue for our conference and I would encourage everybody to get in early with their registration and accommodation bookings. It is sure to be a very informative and highly entertaining weekend, with several overseas guest speakers lined up."

The host print site this year is the Fairfax Media Regional Print facility that houses a six tower Goss Community pressline. Organisers says the press is expected to be of interest to delegates having been installed just last year as the result of a project which saw reconditioned units from various sites around Australia combined at the one location.

The flagship publication produced at the site is the Northern Daily Leader, a six-day-a-week local newspaper with a circulation of over 13,000 copies.