Full-Service Minnesota Printer Enters Digital Short-Run Color Market with Quickmaster DI.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1997--Metro Printing, Inc. is constantly looking for ways to better serve its customers. With changes in technology and the widespread use of computers, Metro Printing, Inc., located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, found there was more and more demand for cost-effective, short-run, quality color printing.

To satisfy its customers' new requirements, the commercial printer purchased the digitally driven Heidelberg Quickmaster DI. "We view it as a high-quality, low-cost solution for short-run color work," explains Tom Jungels, president. "When we found out that Heidelberg was coming out with the Quickmaster DI in 1995, we ordered one based on the new technology and Heidelberg's reputation. We have had Heidelberg equipment for the last 25 years, and recognize them as an industry leader."

Jungels did investigate other digital printing solutions from Xeikon, Indigo, and, most recently, Xerox, but they didn't fit the short-run color solution they were looking for.

A True Offset Press

"The Quickmaster DI is truly an offset press," Jungels explains. "It doesn't use chemicals, solutions and liquid inks as a substitute for ink. We wanted to stay with direct-to-press because it gives us lithographic quality and the benefits of digital technology. Also, we were impressed with the quality of the product it produces."

The Quickmaster DI, which uses a series of 64 laser diodes to simultaneously image its four printing units, can produce images in resolutions up to 2540 dpi.

Established in 1970, Metro Printing, Inc. is a full service printer that serves a diverse customer base, and can take a one- to five-color job through design, prepress, press, and bindery. "We still have our very first customer," notes Jungels. "Our customers are very loyal and have been with us for a long time. We are growing at a steady rate, increasing our customer base as well as producing more work for our established customers."

Metro utilizes the Quickmaster DI to produce a broad range of work, including product sheets, brochures, and postcards -- all on quick turnaround. "Our customers either give us a digital file or we prepare the files in our digital prepress area. We take these files directly from our PC or Macintosh computers and get high-quality results."

The commercial shop is running jobs on the Quickmaster DI in quantities as low as 100 and as high as 10,000. The QM-DI can produce 500 one-sided four-color pieces in less than 15 minutes, with a top rated speed of 10,000 sheet per hour.

"We are seeing a savings of 20-30% for our customers because we don't have to run out film or make metal plates," Jungels comments. "Our press makeready is fast compared to conventional offset printing. Also, because it is a waterless process, we don't have to worry about ink/water balance. Ink profiles are adjusted by the press' CPC system. Our customers are very excited about the advanced technology and the cost savings it is providing."

For the future, Jungels expects to have many more customers excited about the short-run quality printing being produced by the new DI press.

CONTACT: Michael Balton, 212/505-9290