-- Graphic Arts Online, 3/11/2008 8:22:00 AM

KANSAS CITY, MO. – When long-time MAN Roland shop Allied Litho began exploring the possibility of replacing its current large format press, a 4 color Roland 800, management thought they would max out at a 6 color 64-inch press.

Instead, they pushed it to the limit and contracted with MAN Roland to purchase a new 73-inch, 6 color, 900 XXL.

"Though we currently have one ROLAND 700 and are very happy with it, I have to admit we were leaning in a different direction at first," said Mike Heier, who along with his cousin, Tim Heier, own and manage Allied Litho. "But we did our homework, talked to other printers, saw the 900 XXL in operation out in Los Angeles and went with the larger format MAN Roland."

"With the new press we'll be able to change over from paper to board in no time," said Heier. "We'll have the ability to use aqueous and UV coating. Plus, we'll be able to double-up and run two 36" x 50" configurations on the 900, making us very cost competitive."

"Of course our biggest deciding factor was the availability of business out there in the marketplace for this larger format," added Heier. "With the 900, we see all kinds of new opportunities opening up for POP displays, packaging and other advertising projects."

Vince Lapinski, MAN Roland's North American Chief Executive Officer stressed the importance of the sale. "We have a partnership with Allied Litho, so it's critical to their long-term positioning, and ours, that they succeed. Accordingly, when they succeed, other printers in the Midwest thinking of moving into large format will give the 900 XXL serious consideration, not only for its unmatched productivity and quality reproduction, but also for the service and support that comes with it."

Allied Litho Plant Manager Matt King had his own reasons for preferring the 900 XXL. "The biggest things to me were the printnet system, TelePresence and the superior automation of the MAN Roland including auto plate changing" he said. "In fact, we consider the printnet workflow integration system and the TelePresence service portal so important to us that we're also going to get our ROLAND 700 press outfitted with these features."

"A lot of customers have been asking for larger sheet work," King related, "So I especially like the advantage of being the only printer in the area capable of printing a 73-inch label."

"The 900 XXL is going to mean other advantages, too," said Al Reijmer, MAN Roland's Vice President of Sales, Central/Western Region. "Being able to double up capacity, print faster and produce print at the high quality level they're used to seeing with their 700 is really going to give Allied Litho a leg up on their competition."

Slated for installation this summer, the Roland 900 XXL offers maximum speeds of 13,000 sheets/h for Format 7 and 7B or a maximum 11,000 sheets/h for Format 8.

The press can be used as a flexible system for paper and carton right through to corrugated board as it can process substrates from 0.04 up to 1.6 mm with the appropriate options.

With its advanced printing unit design, sheet guiding systems, inking and damping units, all the prerequisites are provided for constant and dependable print quality. In addition, modern inline coating systems, chambered doctor blade/anilox roller technology and ROLAND Secconmatic dryers allow high standards to be set for the production of creative up-market products.