Church of Scientology Relies on Heidelberg To Equip New Sheetfed Offset Facility in Los Angeles

(PRESS RELEASE) Kennesaw, Ga., Nov. 1, 2010 – The Church of Scientology sought the support and counsel of Heidelberg USA in adding an in-house sheetfed offset litho printing facility to its all-digital “Smart Factory” operation at Bridge Publications in Los Angeles. The organization recently completed a series of installations—including press, postpress, and software components from Heidelberg—designed to increase efficiencies and reduce the costs associated with outsourcing production of its marketing collateral and related materials.

“Our decision to bring sheetfed printing in house was based on cost, quality control, and our desire to gain the capability to produce up to 50 language versions without paying the exorbitant makeready and changeover costs associated with outsourcing,” said Jamie McClintock, Special Projects Manager. “From the ground up, Heidelberg has played a vital role in the planning and execution of this project.”

“The Church of Scientology did well to consult with Heidelberg for such an extensive undertaking,” said Clarence Penge, Vice President, Sheetfed Product Management, Heidelberg USA. “We were privileged not only to lend our technological expertise but also to serve as a training resource for its operators. The Church can rest assured that Heidelberg will continue to provide the support it needs to maximize production efficiency and ensure that its operators obtain the skill sets necessary to achieve it.”

The Appeal of A Proven Technology
The centerpiece of the new facility is a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 5-color press, chosen after extensive research revealed not only Heidelberg’s proven track record of producing top-of-the-line equipment, but also the quality of its excellent training and education programs.

“Coming from a digital production workflow, we had no offset press experience,” McClintock said. ”As a result, we were impressed with the automated features of the XL 105 because we felt that they would enable us to shorten our learning curve and get us up and running faster, which we saw as a huge benefit.”