Me & My machine: Heidelberg SM74

Describe your company?

Mail Order Solutions (MOS) is a print project specialist with complete focus to provide wholesome one-stop solution to clients across varied industry verticals like insurance, mutual funds, banks and direct marketers. With contemporary software available at hand, we manage bulk campaigns wherein intense personalisation and variable data printing, multi-element matching and multi-location distribution is catered to with ease.

What does the machine do?
Heidelberg SM74 is a terrific commercial print equipment for paper and board.

Why did you choose this particular machine?
From different contemporary options, Heidelberg SM74 is a top level automation workhorse. Sturdy, technically superior and provides for optimum production conditions.

Did you look at any other similar machine?
No.

Why did you make the purchase?
Heidelberg is a worldwide brand with ever evolving consistency and quality. It made perfect sense to bring this combination to our clients for enhanced output experience and to handle the increasing print volumes.

What features do you particularly like?
Fewer pile changes for long runs. It can handle 15,000 sheets per hour which reduces makeready time and colour consistency which is a big consideration to achieve for large volume repeat jobs.

Is there anything you wish it had that it doesn’t?
Online UV coater. This would cut down manual efforts with improved outputs.

How fast is it?
Set-up and makeready time is minimal. We have already clocked 30 million impressions since July 2010.  

What’s the quality like?
Consistent. This is really important for our international and domestic clients who give us repeat jobs.

How reliable is it?
We have purchased brand-new kits and have experienced no issues other than the usual teething moments. Today, these machines function like clockwork and that makes them extremely reliable.

How easy is it to use?
Automation has made life really smooth and even a semi-skilled operator can comfortably use the machine.

How much time or money has it saved?
For MOS, time and money savings is visible in the level of client satisfaction and increase in business. Our machines and manpower help us provide consistent quality and service that makes all the difference.

Would you say that it offers value for money?
Yes. In fact MOS is considering another Heidelberg addition soon.

Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
Normal teething difficulties which were addressed promptly and solved.

What about the pre- and after-sales service?
We have experienced prompt responses and consistent follow-up from Heidelberg.

Who do you think the system is right for?
Printers with large volume jobs looking for colour correctness, less makeready time consumption and overall reduced efforts in maintenance of the print equipment.

Under what circumstances would you buy another?
Business expansion and satisfaction with the product.


CONCLUSION

User's verdict
Speed 4/5
Quality 4/5
Reliability 4/5
Value for money 3.5/5

Supplier’s Response
Peter Rego, general manager-equipment sales at Heidelberg India, says: "The Speedmaster (SM) 74 has always been a market leader and the machine’s specification has risen to new heights. Even Mehul Desai admits that SM 74 offers value for money. We are delighted that Mail Order Solutions has had such success, a response we are hearing from many users around the world. Heidelberg is always conservative in its claims, but this press is not a one-gadget wonder. It is a peak performer and profit-maker from front to back, making it ideal for short- to long-run work."

Contact
Peter Rego, Heidelberg India
+91 44 4347 2000
peter.rego@heidleberg.com
www.heidelberg.com