1st new Heidelberg CD 102-5 makes a good impression

The first of the latest DRUPA 2004 model Heidelberg Speedmasters CD102-5 goes into Sydney printing company, Good Impressions.

The new CD102-5 features a range of enhancements reflecting a revolution in press capabilities and solutions from Heidelberg, including a new Preset Plus feeder along with a remodelled Preset Plus delivery.


Good Impressions, established by Peter Edwards, director (left), and Andrew Page sales director (right) in 1986 provides full in-house pre-press, press and design capabilities for commercial printing services, focusing on advertising and marketing sector clients.

Positioning the 45 staff company for future growth was the main driver for the installation of the CD102-5. Prior to this, Good Impressions was successfully running a suite of Heidelberg presses, which Edwards refers to as “Drupa 1990 technology”, enabling the company to meet its budgeted sales figures, but not to grow.

“At this point, turnover was increasing without increasing profitability,” says Edwards. “We realised we had to install the latest generation technology to solidify our position, which we did by installing the CD102-5. We are now operating on Drupa 2004 technology and are in strong position to increase our market share.”


“The driving force for all innovations on the Heidelberg CD102-5 is faster makeready times, equating to greater productivity across the workflow,” says Andreas Sommer, Head of Heidelberg’s Sheetfeed Solution Centre Australia/New Zealand.

The enhancements of the Preset Plus feeder and delivery are an industry first, dramatically reducing makeready times, as well as boosting sheet travel efficiency.

Interfacing through the CP 2000 control centre, operators can programme stock thickness or paper formats, which will automatically be translated into the respective format and air settings in the feeder and in the delivery.

Preset Plus delivery also features a new drying system, Drystar 3000, which makes the CD102-5 the number one packaging press enabling the use of water based coatings, metallic, gold and silver as well as specialist coatings such as blister and UV.

“Impressive features like these improve our profitability, enabling us to maintain and improve our margins,” says Edwards.

Edwards adds that with the latest advancements of the CD102-5, resulting in shorter makeready times to improved throughput, the company is achieving “significant” increases in productivity.

The installation of the CD102-5 by Good Impressions is the last stage of a step-by-step process by the company to position themselves for future growth; a process which began with bringing benchmark pre-press, then bindery, technology in-house.

Edwards believes that a large component of future growth will come from the direct marketing industry, which accounts for $16.4 million in advertising media spending annually and continues to attract a growing share of the marketing budget.

He goes on to say that despite the printing industry’s rapid technological advancements in the areas of digital communication, marketers will still require high-quality material delivered to deadline leaving plenty of room for growth in the more traditional offset markets well into the future.

“We believe that customers still like the look and feel of glossy brochures. Large runs of promotional materials means that companies will need an offset partner who is capable of producing high quality products quickly, and this is where the CD102-5 comes in.”

Since the installation of the CD102-5 Good Impressions has been producing with ease a variety of 8 and 16 page brochures, in four colours with a varnish.

“This market was already a significant part of our business,” says Edwards. “Increased work from this sector has enabled us to maintain and improve our profit margin, fully justifying our decision.”

A Heidelberg house since its inception, Edwards was well aware of its world standard equipment reliability and says this was a factor in Heidelberg being their supplier of choice.

“It was the whole package along with trading in earlier model equipment. All this, along with Heidelberg’s comprehensive warranty and service and support, enabled Good Impressions to affordably install the latest advances in press technology in the CD102-5.”

Edwards says that the CD102-5 positions the company well to enhance its value-added services, complementing the specialist services it currently offers to clients from the advertising and marketing sector.