Blue Star boosts Heidelberg long-perfector market share

The boom in long perfector orders takes Heidelberg's total to 60 machines across Australia and New Zealand with Andy Vels Jensen, managing director of HAN, claiming the company has held strong against the competition to retain the strongest market share over the past three years.

“Our leadership in long perfectors is made possible by our experience in, and support of, the market in this region,” says Vels Jensen.

Bluestar Print chose two long perfector machines, an eight and a ten colour, to spearhead its new custom-built Melbourne production facility, bringing the total number of long-perfecting machines throughout the group to nine.

Blue Star goes long with Heidelberg

Mike Shannon, CEO of Blue Star Print Australia, claims the decision to commit to Heidelberg perfectors dates back to about three years ago when it conducted a market review of sheefted perfectors available.

“From that time on we have remained committed to the Heidelberg solution. We also believe the depth of the Heidelberg organisation in Australia and New Zealand is an important part to the relationship which isn't one of box dropping. Heidelberg consistently works with us to ensure we are getting the best out of the equipment,” says Shannon.

Spectrum Print in Christchurch, New Zealand commissioned a Speedmaster 102 10-colour perfector in May with Mike Becconsall, managing director, claiming it delivered a 20 per cent productivity increase.

“Being on the south island of New Zealand can pose equipment support problems with some suppliers, however we have Heidelberg engineers here on the ground who provide full service back up around the clock. Our relationship with Heidelberg is definitely a partnership,” he says.

Other players in the game

While Heidelberg claims a lion's share of the long perfector market, CPI kick started its Komori East Coast long perfector campaign with the installation of three ten-colour machines into Sydney this year following from its inital Perth install. Although not all the recent installations were new machines, Gerard Wintle, general manager of machinery at CPI, claims his company is positioning itself to further accelerate the trend.

“At the moment long perfectors account for around 60 per cent of our sales and they make up a big proportion of our future prospects as well, both in 40 inch and 29 inch, ” says Wintle.

“We are also seeing a definite trend in the market towards half-size perfectors following the release of the LS29, which is built on the same technology as the 40 inch LS40 press,” he says.

IPP Print & Pack, the MAN Roland agent, is another player in the game. It has fought hard for its headland MAN Roland long perfector site at Chippndale Printing in Sydney, which boasts the world's only site with two machines side by side.