Meridian Boosts Production with RMGT 970 Perfecting Press

Graphco, the Midwest and Southeast distributor for RMGT and a leading provider of offset, digital, and print finishing solutions, has announced the successful installation of a new RMGT 4-color 970 perfecting press at Meridian’s Loves Park, Illinois facility, just outside Rockford. Installed in 2025, the press represents a strategic step forward in Meridian’s continued investment in high-performance print manufacturing.

Headquartered in the Midwest, Meridian operates three integrated production facilities and five fulfillment and distribution centers, delivering end-to-end print and marketing collateral management. With more than 40 years of experience, the company serves a national customer base across healthcare, manufacturing, retail, nonprofit, and other industries (https://www.meridian-direct.com).

The RMGT 970 Perfector was selected as a versatile, right-sized solution to support Meridian’s need to find a press that could produce a diverse job mix. Upgrading from a three-quarter size sheet to a full 25" x 38" format, the RMGT 970 Perfector enables Meridian to efficiently produce the vast majority of its general commercial work, without taking on the added cost and footprint of a 40-inch offset platform. “At Meridian we’re always looking to invest in cutting-edge, user-friendly technology.” said Bob Chanson, CEO, Meridian. “The 970 press checked all our boxes and then some.”

Designed to function as both a two-over-two perfector and a four-color straight press, the RMGT 970 delivers the flexibility today’s commercial print environment demands. For Meridian, that adaptability has already made an impact. “The RMGT 970 Perfector has truly become the Swiss Army knife of our pressroom,” said Marc Scordato, Director of Operations. “We can run two-over-two work in a single pass and then quickly switch over to four-color straight jobs. That flexibility has been really helpful.”

Equipped with RMGT’s double/double/single-diameter cylinder perfecting mechanism, the press achieves perfecting speeds of up to 15,000 sheets per hour while maintaining precise sheet control. Integrated LED curing technology further boosts performance. Sheets exit the press instantly dry, allowing work to move directly into finishing without delays. “With LED, we’re moving right into post-press, where we used to see bottlenecks,” Scordato added. “Now we’re getting faster turnaround times and basically zero delays between press and finishing.”

Beyond productivity gains, the Benford LED system consumes significantly less energy than conventional UV systems and eliminates the need for spray powder, contributing to a cleaner work environment and lower operating costs.

“Meridian took a real strategic approach to this investment,” said Derek Gordon, Regional Vice President of Sales at Graphco. “When we analyzed their production profile, the RMGT 970 Perfector was the perfect fit. It covers roughly 95 percent of their general commercial work while giving them the flexibility and efficiency they need to keep growing.”

Chris Manley, President of Graphco, praised the partnership and shared commitment to smart technology investments. “Meridian has built an impressive operation by aligning the right equipment with their customers’ needs,” said Manley. “The RMGT 970 Perfector will help them continue to deliver quality and efficiency, and we’re proud to support their continued success.”