The achievement comes less than a year after the commercial printer revamped its press fleet with the installation of a pair of new five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster XL presses, an XL 106-5 and an XL 75-5 plus coater, at its Shoreham facility. Heidelberg ISO 12647-2 certification involves a comprehensive programme of equipment optimisation and testing, according to Gemini Group managing director Steve Cropper. “The colour management programme and testing took about three days and we did have to lose about eight hours a day in production on each day. However, we regard that as an investment because we will reap the benefits in reduced waste and even better colour quality and consistency moving forward,” he said. “The ISO 12647-2 certification is a sales tool but also enhances production disciplines. With Inpress Control, sheets are automatically checked and inking altered, eliminating the need for operator intervention and ensuring consistent and provable results.” Companies that attain Heidelberg’s ISO 12647-2 certification become members of the press manufacturer’s ‘Colour Club’ and are listed on the Heidelberg UK website so that print buyers can check the authenticity of their colour credentials. “There is a real advantage in undertaking this certification process with the press supplier. We have benefitted from sound, practical advice,” added Cropper....

The achievement comes less than a year after the commercial printer revamped its press fleet with the installation of a pair of new five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster XL presses, an XL 106-5 and an XL 75-5 plus coater, at its Shoreham facility. Heidelberg ISO 12647-2 certification involves a comprehensive programme of equipment optimisation and testing, according to Gemini Group managing director Steve Cropper. “The colour management programme and testing took about three days and we did have to lose about eight hours a day in production on each day. However, we regard that as an investment because we will reap the benefits in reduced waste and even better colour quality and consistency moving forward,” he said. “The ISO 12647-2 certification is a sales tool but also enhances production disciplines. With Inpress Control, sheets are automatically checked and inking altered, eliminating the need for operator intervention and ensuring consistent and provable results.” Companies that attain Heidelberg’s ISO 12647-2 certification become members of the press manufacturer’s ‘Colour Club’ and are listed on the Heidelberg UK website so that print buyers can check the authenticity of their colour credentials. “There is a real advantage in undertaking this certification process with the press supplier. We have benefitted from sound, practical advice,” added Cropper....

The 30-staff company in Aberdeen will run the press alongside its existing iGen4 and produce brochures, health-and-safety material and handbooks for companies in the oil and gas sectors. Managing director Andrew Hall said: “We wanted more speed, bigger sheet size and matt as opposed to conventional toner. We saw the quality last year at Drupa and will use the other iGen as back up. The print quality is great.” He said the new machine had almost doubled capacity of digital print. The recent purchase, which went in two months ago, runs at 150 pages per minute against the iGen4’s 90 pages. “It can offer significant improved quality for existing clients, enabling us to offer a more realistic alternative to offset litho because it’s hard to differentiate between this and litho jobs; the quality is that good.” Hall added: “The new large sheet size of 364x660mm means we can diversify our product portfolio and produce a greater range of high-value print. We recently won a best-of-the-best award from Xerox on the strength of print quality.”...

The 30-staff company in Aberdeen will run the press alongside its existing iGen4 and produce brochures, health-and-safety material and handbooks for companies in the oil and gas sectors. Managing director Andrew Hall said: “We wanted more speed, bigger sheet size and matt as opposed to conventional toner. We saw the quality last year at Drupa and will use the other iGen as back up. The print quality is great.” He said the new machine had almost doubled capacity of digital print. The recent purchase, which went in two months ago, runs at 150 pages per minute against the iGen4’s 90 pages. “It can offer significant improved quality for existing clients, enabling us to offer a more realistic alternative to offset litho because it’s hard to differentiate between this and litho jobs; the quality is that good.” Hall added: “The new large sheet size of 364x660mm means we can diversify our product portfolio and produce a greater range of high-value print. We recently won a best-of-the-best award from Xerox on the strength of print quality.”...

According to the Q1 figures released by the body, total advertising spend grew by 2.4%. However, while the overall picture was rosy, driven by growth in online and TV advertising, newsbrands, magazines and direct mail fell by an estimated 7.9%, 11.6% and 1% respectively. Total ad spend in the first quarter reached £4.14bn, following on from the positive trend of last year when total spend returned to pre-2007 levels and topped the £17bn mark. The AA/Warc Expenditure Report predicted that the total 2013 advertising spend in 2013 will be 2.6% higher than 2012, rising to a 4.9% year-on-year increase in 2014. Tim Lefroy, Chief Executive of the Advertising Association said: “A pound spent on advertising returns six pounds to GDP. These figures don’t just reflect growing confidence, they represent an important investment in the recovery.” Q1 2013 actuals 2013 (forecast) TV 5.6 3.9 Radio -2.9 1.7 Out of home 0.1 -1.5 Newsbrands -7.9 -4.3 Magazines -11.6 -5.6 Cinema 1.6 -11.7 Internet – pure play* 11.1 10.4 Direct mail** -1.0 -0.3 *Internet data for Q1 2013 is a Warc estimate. Excludes TV VOD, digital adspend for newsbrands and magazine brands** Direct mail data for Q1 2013 is a Warc...