Moquin Press Installs HEIDELBERG’s First 21K Speedmaster XL 106 for Labels
Moquin Press, a print and packaging provider in the Bay Area, recently installed a new Speedmaster XL 106 from HEIDELBERG. The new XL 106, which produces the company’s cut and stack labels, is the first in the United States to print 21,000 sheets per hour and the first in world specially designed for label production. Equipped with the newest generation Prinect Inpress Control and CutStar inline sheeter, the XL 106 has increased Moquin Press’s label net output by 18% and plays a vital role in the company’s sustainability efforts. Its newest machine is part of Moquin Press’s “XL Legacy” – having also been the first in the U.S. to install both the Speedmaster XL 105 and XL 106 with Push-to-Stop technology.
Transition to Packaging
With roots in commercial printing, Moquin Press’s business has significantly evolved since it installed its first XL 105 in 2004. The company has made almost a full transition to packaging – now specializing in folding cartons and cut and stack labels. “We started looking closer at the industry trends and the needs of our target market,” said Bryan Moquin, Business Development Manager. “We then decided to focus all of our investments in the last two years on developing these two product lines.”
Moquin Press made its first steps to solidify its presence in the food packaging market in 2021 with the acquisition of Valley Printing, a cut and stack label printing company recognized for having a large footprint in the Central California food industry. Since then, the company has continued to grow its market presence and achieved SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification for its two production facilities. “We see this certification as the next step in our growth as a packaging manufacturer for the food and beverage industries dedicated to the highest safety standards,” said Juliana Lopez, Marketing Director at Moquin Press.
As Moquin Press continues its evolution as a packaging and label manufacturer, the company’s “commercial printing mindset” has aided in growing its customer base. “We have the same quick reaction time and high level of customer service that we did as a commercial printer,” Moquin said. “We’re attracting new customers that aren’t getting that from their standard packaging and label vendors.”
“A Machine Engineered for Longevity”
Further adding to Moquin Press’ success is its commitment to continually investing in industry leading technology. The company was the first in the U.S. to install both the original Speedmaster XL 105 (2004) and the XL 106 with Push-to-Stop technology (2016). Moquin Press’s most recent investment is the first Speedmaster XL 106 in the US rated for printing 21,000 sheets per hour. The seven-color press with inline coating replaces an older XL 105 and is equipped with HEIDELBERG’s latest innovations including autonomous Push-to-Stop technology, AutoPlate Pro, and the HEIDELBERG User Experience. Moquin Press’s 21K model is the first in the world specifically developed for the requirements of high-performance label printers. It includes changes to the CutStar and special sheet travel adjustments in the units and the delivery, which are optimized for thinner materials.
“Since its inception, the Speedmaster XL press family has undergone a remarkable evolution across various domains,” said Marcio Ribiero, General Manager for Moquin Press. “Among its notable advancements is the ability to seamlessly operate at peak speeds across a broad spectrum of substrates. The print quality it delivers is exceptional, embodying a machine engineered for longevity.”
Moquin Press’s newest XL 106 was installed late last year, and since “live” production started, the machine consistently runs at top speeds, 24 hours a day across three shifts. Its enhanced automation and built-in artificial intelligence mean the press requires significantly less manpower than the company’s previous press. With Intellistart 3, all of the steps required for job changes are defined without any operator intervention for all active and queued processes. According to Moquin, “Not only is the press incredibly consistent and stable during the run, so many of the processes are automated, and the technology is so intuitive. It’s the best Speedmaster we’ve ever had.”
A Model for Sustainability
Recently awarded a Silver rating by EcoVadis, the leading global advocate for sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Moquin Press is dedicated to safeguarding the planet’s natural wealth and contributing to overall economic and social wellbeing. The company aims to achieve its sustainability goals through four key pillars: printing process innovation, source reduction, earth-conscious material alternatives, and sustainable supply chain.
“Our latest investment is a testament to our dedication to both quality and sustainability,” said Lopez. “We believe businesses have a responsibility to minimize their environmental impact. This press is a significant step in that direction.” By increasing net output, Moquin Press can produce more units in less time, lowering its overall energy usage. Additionally, the new XL 106 is a carbon-neutral press, which means CO2 emissions that are generated during press production are compensated for by HEIDELBERG purchasing climate protection certificates (Gold Standard).
Further efforts by Moquin Press to minimize its environmental impact include installing its presses with CutStar inline sheeters. Its newest XL 106 includes the Generation 4 CutStar, which features enhanced automation to shorten makeready times when changing materials. By switching from sheets of paper to rolls of paper during production, Moquin Press went from a paper utilization of 80% to 96%, reducing waste and increasing throughput.
Behind the Scenes
Driving everything “behind the scenes” are HEIDELBERG’s Prinect Production Manager (workflow) and Business Manager (MIS). Together, the two connect the entire production chain – from estimates to preflighting to automatically sending job data and color profiles to the platesetter, press, and finishing equipment. By keeping the job data bundled, every part of the production process is faster and more efficient. “Prinect essentially acts as an additional, invaluable assistant within the machinery,” said Ribiero. “It significantly simplifies the operational process and enables the press operators to extract the utmost performance from the equipment with minimal effort.”
Once on press, Moquin Press relies on Prinect Inpress Control 3, the industry-leading inline spectrophotometer, to automatically measure and control color and register on press at 21,000 sheets per hour. Moquin said, “It completely automates the color management process, giving us confidence our customers’ colors will be right every time. I can’t imagine having a machine without it.” Not only does Inpress Control produce more consistent color but the technology shortens makeready times and reduces waste, which also contributes to the company’s sustainability goals.
Despite its steadfast investments in cutting-edge technologies, Moquin said the company’s true attraction to HEIDELBERG is its robust and efficient service department. “Being able to rely on the HEIDELBERG service team has been the driving factor for a lot of our decisions. They’ve always stood behind what they said they were going to do. HEIDELBERG has always been a great partner to us.”
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.
