When Wallace Graphics, a commercial printing company in Duluth, Georgia, set out to install a new Heidelberg printing press, they wanted to increase efficiency, expand capacity and take their print capabilities to the next level.
The new press — a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 — is the flagship of Heidelberg’s Peak Performance class. This eight-color system, equipped with a UV coating unit and perfecting unit, stretches nearly 100 feet long and runs up to 24 hours a day, six days a week, representing a major step forward for Wallace Graphics.
But before that could happen, the site itself had to be reworked — and that’s where Takeuchi equipment played a critical role.
Powering the Prep Work
Kilcor Construction, a metro Atlanta-based contractor known for its work in commercial and industrial construction, was brought in to handle demolition and site preparation. The job required removing and relocating a large concrete slab to make way for a new press pit. The project had to be completed in just eight working days while Wallace Graphics continued its normal daily operations, adding another layer of complexity.
Crews removed approximately 80 to 90 yards of concrete from an existing 85-by-12-foot slab, along with additional material beneath it, to prepare the site for a heavily reinforced foundation capable of supporting the 165,000-lb press. The new foundation had to be built to extremely tight tolerances, with level variance limited to just +/- 2 millimeters across the entire length.
To tackle the work, Kilcor relied on Takeuchi’s TB240 compact excavator and TL6R compact track loader for both demolition and excavation. The TB240 compact excavator provided the breakout force, reach and control needed to break up and remove concrete in tight areas, while the TL6R compact track loader delivered the traction and power to move heavy material, along with the compact footprint to work efficiently in confined spaces. The machines’ maneuverability proved critical, allowing crews to work efficiently within an active facility without disrupting ongoing operations.
According to Joel Thorton of Kilcor Construction, the Takeuchi equipment delivered consistent performance — even during the projects’ toughest phases.
“It’s hard, grinding work, especially when you’re breaking up and removing that much concrete,” he said. “We needed equipment that could handle it day in and day out without slowing us down, and the Takeuchi machines have been very durable and reliable throughout the project.”
A Familiar Name on the Jobsite
For Wallace Graphics, seeing Takeuchi equipment in action was an unexpected but welcome sight.
David Hunter, business development manager for Wallace Graphics, immediately recognized the brand. Because Takeuchi is located nearby and is also one of Wallace Graphics’ largest customers, Hunter was confident in both the equipment and the work being done.
“This press is a major investment for us, both in terms of capability and precision,” said D Hunter. “With a machine of this size and weight, the foundation has to be exactly right. Seeing Takeuchi equipment on site gave us a lot of confidence in the work being done.”
Driving What’s Next
Once complete, the new press and foundation will allow Wallace Graphics to replace two existing presses with a more advanced system capable of delivering higher-quality output.
The new press is also a significant leap forward in productivity, capable of producing up to 18,000 sheets per hour — or roughly 144,000 letter-size pages — helping Wallace Graphics enhance both efficiency and output quality.
And while the new press represents the future of their operation, it’s the work leading up to that installation that makes it possible.
From demolition to site preparation, Takeuchi equipment helped lay the groundwork — proving once again that dependable machines are key to getting the job done right.
“We started in 1987 as a one-person print shop, and today we’ve grown into a company with more than 200 employees across multiple facilities,” said Hunter. “Investments like this new press are what allow us to keep evolving. And having the right partners and equipment on a project like this helps ensure we get there the right way.”
