The Clemson Graphic Communications program has proven to produce knowledgeable, experienced professionals ready for the work place after graduation. SPC is always looking for ways to grow the future of print and is committed to the success of young professionals in the industry. In an effort to fill the gaps between college print programs and the industry itself, we asked a series of questions to Clemson staff and alumni. Associate Professor for the Department of Graphic Communications, Doctor Eric Weisenmiller, along with alumni and current SPC employees, Kiki Heron, 2016 graduate, and Audrey Prochaska, 2021 graduate provide their insight below: HOW DO COLLEGE PRINT PROGRAMS HELP PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY? Eric W: College Graphic Communications programs are promoting the industry by building upon fundamental knowledge of the production practices taught in the core curriculum. Awareness about the industry is key, I believe, as many students are not necessarily aware of the industry’s scope. WHAT CAN THE PRINT INDUSTRY DO MORE OF TO HELP PRINT PROGRAMS SUCCEED? EW: Three things come to mind in regards to this: 1. Having industry provide meaningful internship opportunities for our students 2. Keeping open doors to welcome our students for site visits, sponsored attendance, mentorship relationships, and collaborative projects 3. Providing a bit of material support to allow for hands-on experiences to continue to take place on campus for student projects.

Two decades ago, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) made a bold and far-reaching statement when it broke ground for its own production site in China. This was the beginning of a success story that has developed into a cornerstone of the entire company. The 2024/25 financial year set a record, with around 1,500 printing units assembled, an export quota of 40 percent, and deliveries to 70 countries. To date, a total of over 16,000 printing and coating units and almost 3,300 printing presses have been delivered from the Shanghai plant. The site thus makes a significant contribution to the strong market position of HEIDELBERG in China and gives the company a real competitive advantage. What began in 2005 with the assembly of simple folding machines for print finishing has now become one of the most important production sites in the global HEIDELBERG network as a result of the dynamic growth of the Chinese printing industry. The Shanghai site (formerly known as the “Qingpu site” based on its exact location) covers an area of around 100,000 square meters, including 70,000 square meters of production space spread across three assembly shops. Today, the site employs around 600 people, who mainly produce printing units for the medium and large formats of the Speedmaster CX 92, SX 102, and CX 104 models.

The BoxMaker, a leading Pacific Northwest manufacturer of corrugated packaging, broke ground on a new production plant in Lowell, Arkansas, on March 16, 2021 as part of a multi-million-dollar investment to effectively address growing demand across the country for digitally produced packaging and displays. The new 60,000-sq.-ft. facility will produce full-color custom corrugated boxes and retail displays using industry-leading digital production equipment, including an HP PageWide C500 printing press and a fleet of high-speed tool-less digital cutting machines. The BoxMaker will be the first company in the United States to operate two C500 machines, the first having been installed and operated in their Seattle, WA plant since 2018.