Heidelberg 4-color SM 74 installed in Tiruvannamalai

Modern printing technology making inroads to India’s tier-2 cities

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Heidelberg
Palani, managing director, Subam Printers (in the middle) with the new Heidelberg SM 74 press

Tiruvannamalai-based Subam Printers has expanded its portfolio with a brand new Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74, as part of its revenue acceleration strategy. From a modest beginning as a screen-printing startup in 1991, Subam Printers has grown to a 12,000 square feet print facility today. Its relationship with Heidelberg dates back to 2011, when Subam installed a 4-color Speedmaster 74 offset press at its Guindy subsidiary in Chennai.

A major portion of Subam’s business consists of commercial printing jobs from regular clients.“The latest Speedmaster SM 74 installation is a perfect fit into the print shop’s quality and performance conscious modus operandi, which is to avoid delays and defects, while practicing zero tolerance to negligence. Quality excellence is an unspoken commitment to the customer. We continue to rely on Heidelberg to help us deliver this promise,” says Palani, managing director, Subam Printers.

Palani says, “With our new Speedmaster SM 74, there would be no delays or defects, thanks to automation components like ‘Autoplate’ to facilitate fast and efficient plate changes. This in turn, reduces makeready and setup times compared to other presses. With a production speed of up to 15,000 sheets an hour, the press is exactly what we need for our commercial printing setup.”

The Prinect Easy Control color measuring system of the Speedmaster SM 74’ helps in bringing down paper waste levels, while a speed compensated Alcolor dampening system produces print results. An automated feeder with central suction tape helps the Speedmaster SM 74 handle a wide array of printing substrates, from thin paper to board, ranging in thickness from 0.03 mm (0.0012 inches) to 0.6 mm (0.024 inches).

“The latest generation print buyers are sticklers for quality output, as well as timely and reliable delivery. The SM 74 will help drive better user experience for our growing client base. It is our key to explore a broader addressable market,” Palani says.

The installation is also a reflection of the inroads Heidelberg is making into tier-2 cities. Rajendra Prasad, manager – marketing and communications, Heidelberg India comments, “The Indian print industry has the next wave of growth from tier-2 cities. We are glad that our continued emphasis on tier-2 markets is starting to pay off. The Subam installation shows that we have moved from market creation into the adoption phase. While we focus on innovation in core technologies, Heidelberg will continue to keep the customer at the centre of everything we do.”

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Naresh Khanna – 20 January 2025

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