Heidelberg USA Creates Custom Service Program for MasterTag

MasterTag, an international company committed to the production of horticultural care tags and merchandising solutions, recently completed a successful, custom service maintenance program from Heidelberg USA (Booth 1200).

The company purchased and installed a five-color Speedmaster XL 75, and wanted to set up an in-house program to teach its maintenance personnel how to repair its Heidelberg press equipment, which also includes a six-color Speedmaster CD 74. After consulting with Heidelberg Systemservice experts, MasterTag decided to expand the scope of the proposed training to include preventive maintenance.

“We’ve run Heidelberg presses for years and often wished we knew some of the basics of preventive maintenance for them,” says Greg Rice, Maintenance Manager. He cites adjustment of the feeder belt timing, sheet guide pan removal and repair, as well as repair of the Ink Line units as typical maintenance needs. “We wanted basic knowledge of the control console and a better understanding of how to maneuver through the different screens and gain a better understanding of how to use the console as a tool for repairs and trouble-shooting,” says Rice.

The most important step

When the Speedmaster XL 75 was installed, MasterTag saw an opportunity to learn how to handle most maintenance issues on its own, utilizing its own people. In essence, “We wanted to understand the realm of our responsibility for the smooth functioning of the press and how to carry out those responsibilities,” Rice concludes.

With that mission in mind, Heidelberg Systemservice technicians and Print Media Academy instructors developed original course materials. Three MasterTag maintenance technicians and Rice subsequently undertook three days of training at Heidelberg’s North American Print and Packaging Technology Center in Kennesaw, GA, focusing on maintenance for their Speedmaster CD 74. According to Rice, MasterTag plans to follow up by sending additional maintenance personnel and press operators for training.

“Planned preventive maintenance is the single most important step press owners can take to ensure they derive maximum efficiency and productivity from their Heidelberg equipment,” says Mike Niesen, Vice President, Technical Services for Heidelberg USA. “We regularly create specialized training that will enable printers to manage routine maintenance issues on their own.”

“We have always worked closely with our Heidelberg technicians on troubleshooting issues,” Rice says. “The time we spent in Kennesaw really strengthened that bond. We also gained new respect for Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy and the training and education resources of the Tech Center facility. It was a valuable experience and an investment well worth making.”

Custom training options gaining in popularity

Accommodating customer requests for need-specific training is at the center of Heidelberg’s approach to service. With an escalating demand for training classes tailored to the individual needs of its customers, Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy has increased its offering of needs-specific tools, techniques, and training available through Heidelberg USA’s North American Print and Packaging Technology Center in Georgia. Custom training can run the gamut, everything from promoting a higher level of self-help maintenance, to color management, to bringing operators or press crews up to speed on new or existing equipment.

With 12 full-time trainers and the ability to conduct up to five training classes at a time, Heidelberg USA’s Technology Center functions as a practical resource for customers to prepare for a successful future in print, from basic training to preventative maintenance, trouble-shooting, and beyond.