Heidelberg

University of North Texas Print & Mail Services is one of the most quality-conscious in-plants in the country. Since 2004, the in-plant has won an impressive 38 In-Print awards, earning it great respect across the 36,000-student university.

A school located in the southeastern part of the Evergreen State might be expected to maintain a green state of mind. So, it's not surprising that the Washington State University Publishing office has established its own sustainability program, which promotes responsible usage of paper and other printing resources.

Medifast, a portion-controlled, weight management program, is quickly becoming a leader in a competitive market. And according to Kent Hunter, supervisor at the company's Ridgely, Md.-based in-plant, MDC Printing, the various in-house services the shop provides are a key to the company's success. "The way this place is growing is incredible. The budget is open for the print shop and the management is very supportive."

UV technology gives in-plants an opportunity to offer something different in the form of high-quality coatings, special effects, processing of unusual printing stocks and rapid delivery of express orders. UV coatings, for example, have a number of specific advantages, among them: high gloss levels, excellent protective qualities and a pleasant tactile experience. Sheets are dry and ready for finishing as soon as they arrive in the delivery, with no powdering required.

After getting by for the past couple of decades with minimal investment, Ashland University Printing Services has carried out some major equipment upgrades, allowing the shop to bring a significant amount of printing back in-house. About a year and a half ago, the Ashland, Ohio-based university invested in a new four-color Heidelberg Speedmaster 52, along with a Heidelberg Suprasetter computer-to-plate device with Prinect workflow. At the same time, the shop replaced its aging Baum folder with a 20˝ Stahl folder from Heidelberg. 

Many of us have heard that adding UV printing to our repertoire would increase our offerings to our customers but have not completely understood exactly why. Do the benefits overcome the added expenses? Is UV the answer for developing our business? With today's economy, should I make this capital investment? The question might actually be; "Can you afford not to make the investment?"

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in-plant's recent installation of a Heidelberg Stahlfolder Ti 36 eliminated costly outsourcing and streamlined the in-house production of tens of thousands of pocket guides.

LOCATED ABOUT four miles from the state capitol building in Santa Fe, N.M., the state's Printing & Graphic Services operation has been serving New Mexico for a quarter century. For most of that time, the shop has focused on black-and-white reproduction of business cards, letterhead and forms. High-quality color work, however, was eluding it, and as the demand for this work increased, the in-plant found itself losing business.

New York was decked out for Christmas when IPG Editor Bob Neubauer went there to visit four in-plants: NBC, Metropolitan Museum of Art, AXA Equitable and the NY Presbyterian Hospital.

The management and supervisory boards of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) have announced a restructuring plan. Effective April 1, 2010, the company will be split into three divisions: Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services and Heidelberg Financial Services.