The Heidelberg Platen press became the mainstay of UK jobbing letterpress printing and many machines see service today working on jobs that litho or digital machines simply cannot do: odd shapes of stock; numbering; creasing and perforating, for example.
It’s usually the Heidelberg Platen presses that are working in the UK, but Heidelberg also produced very high quality cylinder machines.
The firm was established in 1850 taking the name Heidelberg in 1905. While production ceased during World War II, by 1957 publicity said machines were made at “…the most modern plant operation in the printing machinery industry throughout the world.” In 1962 the firm made it’s first litho machines. By 1958 the firm claimed 58,000 machines had been made.
The machine guide includes sections on full colour printing — precision of Heidelberg machine is legendary provided they have been looked after.
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