Thursday, February 25, 2010, Calgary, Alberta – What has four colours, gets fed paper and has put smiles on the faces of SAIT Polytechnic’s Digital Graphics Communications faculty and students?

The Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52-4 printing press.

“This printing press gives students the opportunity to work on the latest technology found in the printing industry,” said Willem Sijpheer, Academic Chair of SAIT’s Digital Graphics Communications program. “Adding the Heidelberg Speedmaster to our collection of educational tools positions SAIT as one of the best-equipped digital graphic training programs in Canada.”

The Speedmaster is the identical printing press used during the offset printing competition at WorldSkills Calgary this past September. It is approximately 19-feet long, nearly 6-feet high and tips the scales at more than 11,000 pounds. Students will use the press to produce items ranging from brochures and posters to printing editions of The Weekly Albertan, the newspaper created through SAIT’s Journalism program.

“The opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with this type of technology is a real benefit for printing companies trying to hire qualified and very productive staff,” said Richard Armstrong, President of Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited. “With the recent acquisition of a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52-4, SAIT sends a strong message to the printing industry that they are a leader in providing state-of-the-art educational facilities and programs.”

SAIT’s Digital Graphics Communications program is designed to prepare students for a career in the graphic arts industry. Students acquire industry-specific skills in electronic file creation and management, print management and production, print administration, estimating and printing service coordination.

Graduates of the DGC program may find employment at commercial printing and publishing companies, private and industrial printing plants, paper and ink distributors, screen process companies, printing equipment distributors, advertising agencies, digital printing facilities and other graphic arts firms.

SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT is a member of Polytechnics Canada and one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2011.

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