Stolze Printing Adds a Heidelberg Speedmaster 105 XL to its Operation
Printing firm adds second 6-color Heidelberg press to its new facility
Source: Heidelberg -- Graphic Arts Online, February 2, 2010
MO-based Stolze Printing has installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 pressIt all started with Stolze Printing's search for a second 40" press to grace the new, 50,000-square-foot facility to which it relocated in 2007. According to company president Phil Stolze, the company had been hoping to replace its existing full-size machine with a new press that could support the company's business expansion by doing the work of two, but was skeptical it could locate such a capable machine. That was before Stolze had an opportunity to evaluate Heidelberg's Speedmaster XL platform, and wound up purchasing a 6-color Speedmaster XL 105 with aqueous coater three years ago, protecting the press with Heidelberg's comprehensive Systemservice 36plus service coverage. The company recently renewed the Systemservice contract on its Speedmaster 105 for another two years, citing the security ad peace of mind arising from the knowledge that the Heidelberg service organization is "solidly behind us," Stolze said. "Access to top-flight regional service is a big plus, and we've never had a problem getting parts when we've needed them. We think the world of our Heidelberg Systemservice people locally and maintain a close relationship with them. They consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our equipment stays up and running the way it should."
The XL 105 is the first Heidelberg press Stolze has ever owned, and it's fair to say the company was blown away by its performance. "Basically, there's nothing we don't like about the press," said Stolze, a self-described "tough customer" from the Show Me state. "From feeder to delivery, the Speedmaster XL 105 more than lives up to its billing. It's phenomenal to be able to run a 60-lb. coated text with heavy ink coverage at 16,000-18,000 sheets per hours without marking. From an engineering standpoint, the things that have to happen to run high-quality work at these speeds is just mind-boggling." To date, the company has logged more than 80 million impressions on the XL 105 since it was installed.
Bridgeton, MO-based Stolze Printing has been providing print communications solutions since its founding in 1984. The company is FSC-certified, and internationally recognized for its commitment to forest stewardship. With annual sales around $10 million and a staff of 56, the company serves a large and diverse client base worldwide, including many of the largest corporations in St. Louis. Products include annual reports, corporate identity and business marketing pieces, some catalogs, and a fledgling high-end packaging business that currently represents about 5 percent of its workload. "If ink will stick on it, we'll print it," Stolze said.
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