Inkjet world first for Bell & Bain
The colour inkjet web was first shown at Drupa last year. It has a compact, single-tower design and a print width of 540mm. It can print duplex CMYK at 100m/min at 600x600dpi, or 127m/min at 600x480dpi. Glasgow-based Bell & Bain specialises in book and journal printing, including colour books. The company runs a range of conventional and digital equipment. Managing director Stephen Docherty said he had initially been put off inkjet due to high running costs and questionable quality. “We’d seen and heard so much about inkjet, and spoken to so many people about it, but it was mind-boggling what it cost for service and clicks,” he said. Bell & Bain travelled to Fujifilm’s technology centre in Brussels as part of the assessment process for the purchase. “I couldn’t believe how quick and simple the Jet Press was to operate, and it was actually an easy decision. There’s no click charge and the service costs are reasonable. It makes it straightforward for us to work out our pricing,” Docherty added. The new press has a list price of around £1.2m, depending on configuration. It will replace an existing Océ 9000 black-and-white continuous feed system when it is installed next month, and is being configured to run inline with Bell & Bain’s Muller Martini Sigma binding line. “We’ll be using it for black-and-white work initially, the black tones are absolutely phenomenal so I believe our short-run black-and-white work will instantly migrate to it,” Docherty said. “We can also offer selected customers colour book options, for example market testing with a short run at relatively low cost.” Docherty said the firm was in the process of deciding upon a selection of papers. “We may streamline the choice a little to avoid holding lots of reels.” Chris Broadhurst, UK national sales manager at Fujifilm Graphic Systems, said Fujifilm was extremely proud about the order: “The 540W arrived in Brussels around Christmas time and we started to take customers over to see it in January and February. As soon as Bell & Bain saw the quality they could see it would suit their work,” he said. “It’s great news for the UK print industry that well-established printers, such as Bell & Bain, are still investing to stand their business in good stead for tomorrow and beyond. To get the first sale for Fujifilm globally is quite a coup for us.” he added. The move caps a number of recent investments at Bell & Bain. This year it has added a B2 KBA Rapida 75 to its brace of Rapida 142 large-format litho presses, as well as a new Muller Martini Alegro perfect binder. The 182-year-old firm employs 82 staff and is on track for sales of £9.3m this year....
read moreOriel Printing boosts colour management with GMG
The B1 sheetfed UV litho trade printer invested in the colour management software developer’s proofing product, ColorProof, two years ago, and opted to complete the package after undergoing a colour management audit. The latest version of ColorServer, 4.8, was unveiled at last month’s North Print & Pack. “A lot of our jobs are bespoke work for high-quality brands, often involving the use of spot colours, varnishes and printing on specialist substrates such as plastics and metallic and Mirri board materials,” said studio manager Nick Carlin. “GMG ColorProof allowed us to improve proofing quality over what we were using at the time but as jobs have grown in complexity and the range of print substrates has increased, we needed a solution that could simplify and automate our growing colour conversion tasks,” he added. Print equipment at the facility includes a Heidelberg CD102-7, a Heidelberg CX102-7 and a Ricoh Digital C751. Carlin said that the software, which GMG claims boosts efficiency and reduces waste and operator time by automating and standardising colour spaces across devices, has increased the company’s confidence in providing “right-first-time” print results and consistency between machines. Oriel Printing has also invested in GMG’s InkOptimizer, which is designed to conserve ink, resulting in a saving of at least 10% ink consumption, according to Carlin. GMG UK managing director Toby Burnett claimed that his company’s colour management software could save printers “hundreds of thousands of pounds a year” in reduced waste and increased productivity. “More often, printers are finding it harder to achieve accurate visual matches to standardised proofs, especially when a diverse range of substrates are being used,” he added. This results in extended makeready times at the press and increased production costs. Clients that implement our ColorServer technology dramatically reduce these difficulties, and reduce makeready times.”...
read moreGoss Colorliner gets royal seal of approval at DC Thomson
Installed last year as part of a £25m investment in the Dundee-based publisher’s Kingsway printing facility, the Colorliner, which was specified in an eight-tower configuration, was signed for in 2011. The equipment was commissioned in November with initial daily runs of 80,000 copies of The Courier and 30,000 of the Evening Telegraph, printed in cold set. In January Goss Ecocool heatset dryers were commisioned on the CPS, which, according to the company, allows it to “print a commercial quality product”. The royal couple, known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, were given a tour of the newly refurbished facility, meeting production staff and starting the new equipment to officially mark its full commissioning. A DC Thomson spokesman said: “We were delighted to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay to our Kingsway plant. Their Royal Highnesses toured the presses and met with staff members from across our publishing business, in particular production.” To mark the occasion, a special edition of DC Thomson’s The Beano, out on 15 June, will feature the Duke and Duchess with Prince Charles illustrated in a Bash Street Kids strip and the Duchess in a Dennis the Menace and Gnasher strip opening a new school library. Beano editor-in-chief Mike Stirling said: “We are thrilled to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay onto the pages of The Beano. “We’ve had a blast creating their characters and storylines. It’s not every day you get to write Their Royal Highnesses into The Beano – we hope they like it!”...
read moreOriel Printing boosts colour management with GMG
The B1 sheetfed UV litho trade printer invested in the colour management software developer’s proofing product, ColorProof, two years ago, and opted to complete the package after undergoing a colour management audit. The latest version of ColorServer, 4.8, was unveiled at last month’s North Print & Pack. “A lot of our jobs are bespoke work for high-quality brands, often involving the use of spot colours, varnishes and printing on specialist substrates such as plastics and metallic and Mirri board materials,” said studio manager Nick Carlin. “GMG ColorProof allowed us to improve proofing quality over what we were using at the time but as jobs have grown in complexity and the range of print substrates has increased, we needed a solution that could simplify and automate our growing colour conversion tasks,” he added. Print equipment at the facility includes a Heidelberg CD102-7, a Heidelberg CX102-7 and a Ricoh Digital C751. Carlin said that the software, which GMG claims boosts efficiency and reduces waste and operator time by automating and standardising colour spaces across devices, has increased the company’s confidence in providing “right-first-time” print results and consistency between machines. Oriel Printing has also invested in GMG’s InkOptimizer, which is designed to conserve ink, resulting in a saving of at least 10% ink consumption, according to Carlin. GMG UK managing director Toby Burnett claimed that his company’s colour management software could save printers “hundreds of thousands of pounds a year” in reduced waste and increased productivity. “More often, printers are finding it harder to achieve accurate visual matches to standardised proofs, especially when a diverse range of substrates are being used,” he added. This results in extended makeready times at the press and increased production costs. Clients that implement our ColorServer technology dramatically reduce these difficulties, and reduce makeready times.”...
read moreGoss Colorliner gets royal seal of approval at DC Thomson
Installed last year as part of a £25m investment in the Dundee-based publisher’s Kingsway printing facility, the Colorliner, which was specified in an eight-tower configuration, was signed for in 2011. The equipment was commissioned in November with initial daily runs of 80,000 copies of The Courier and 30,000 of the Evening Telegraph, printed in cold set. In January Goss Ecocool heatset dryers were commisioned on the CPS, which, according to the company, allows it to “print a commercial quality product”. The royal couple, known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, were given a tour of the newly refurbished facility, meeting production staff and starting the new equipment to officially mark its full commissioning. A DC Thomson spokesman said: “We were delighted to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay to our Kingsway plant. Their Royal Highnesses toured the presses and met with staff members from across our publishing business, in particular production.” To mark the occasion, a special edition of DC Thomson’s The Beano, out on 15 June, will feature the Duke and Duchess with Prince Charles illustrated in a Bash Street Kids strip and the Duchess in a Dennis the Menace and Gnasher strip opening a new school library. Beano editor-in-chief Mike Stirling said: “We are thrilled to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay onto the pages of The Beano. “We’ve had a blast creating their characters and storylines. It’s not every day you get to write Their Royal Highnesses into The Beano – we hope they like it!”...
read moreEx-PPS director Chris Burchett passes away
Burchett joined the then-Pershke Price Service (PPS) after leaving university and spent his whole career at the business, which subsequently became Manroland GB. M Partners head of sales Gary Doman worked alongside Burchett in the PPS days. He paid tribute: “We worked together for many years and I’m sure many of the old PPS and Manroland customers will remember Chris. He was a powerhouse and really terrific fun to be with in and out of work.” Burchett suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1989 and cut back on some of his duties as a result. He retired from PPS in 1998. His funeral took place today. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Burchett’s memory can do so via the Sussex Snowdrop Trust or Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society. Burchett is survived by his wife Maggie....
read moreEx-PPS director Chris Burchett passes away
Burchett joined the then-Pershke Price Service (PPS) after leaving university and spent his whole career at the business, which subsequently became Manroland GB. M Partners head of sales Gary Doman worked alongside Burchett in the PPS days. He paid tribute: “We worked together for many years and I’m sure many of the old PPS and Manroland customers will remember Chris. He was a powerhouse and really terrific fun to be with in and out of work.” Burchett suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1989 and cut back on some of his duties as a result. He retired from PPS in 1998. His funeral took place today. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Burchett’s memory can do so via the Sussex Snowdrop Trust or Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society. Burchett is survived by his wife Maggie....
read moreVivid launches new duplex laminator
The new machine is a duplexing version of the proven Matrix MX-530 single sided laminator, but allows printers to laminate both sides of the sheet at the same time. The launch follows the introduction of the MF-530 Auto-Feeder option last November, which can be retrofitted to both Matrixes. Bruce Cozens, product manager at the Leicestershire-based laminating kit manufacture, said: “We wanted to build on the success and buzz created by the Auto-Feeder introduction by now offering an upgraded model to the end-user. “We’ve designed the new system to save digital and litho printers even more time. Rather than laminating one side of the print, turning the stock over and laminating the other side, now printers can laminate both sides at exactly the same time, literally halving the time it takes to laminate two sides of the sheet.” He added: “In today’s marketplace, so many customers are demanding a faster turnaround from printers for their prints. Business cards, menus and other double-sided work can now be laminated faster, yet still with the same quality and finish you would expect from the market leading Matrix range.” The £9,950 Matrix MX-530 Duplex will begin shipping in the Autumn. The company will also launch a £2,200 retrofittable duplexing unti for the single-sided Matrix at the same time. Vivid will be exhibiting the new system, along with a range of other laminating and finishing products in the South Hall, stand F42S at Fespa....
read moreVivid launches new duplex laminator
The new machine is a duplexing version of the proven Matrix MX-530 single sided laminator, but allows printers to laminate both sides of the sheet at the same time. The launch follows the introduction of the MF-530 Auto-Feeder option last November, which can be retrofitted to both Matrixes. Bruce Cozens, product manager at the Leicestershire-based laminating kit manufacture, said: “We wanted to build on the success and buzz created by the Auto-Feeder introduction by now offering an upgraded model to the end-user. “We’ve designed the new system to save digital and litho printers even more time. Rather than laminating one side of the print, turning the stock over and laminating the other side, now printers can laminate both sides at exactly the same time, literally halving the time it takes to laminate two sides of the sheet.” He added: “In today’s marketplace, so many customers are demanding a faster turnaround from printers for their prints. Business cards, menus and other double-sided work can now be laminated faster, yet still with the same quality and finish you would expect from the market leading Matrix range.” The £9,950 Matrix MX-530 Duplex will begin shipping in the Autumn. The company will also launch a £2,200 retrofittable duplexing unti for the single-sided Matrix at the same time. Vivid will be exhibiting the new system, along with a range of other laminating and finishing products in the South Hall, stand F42S at Fespa....
read moreRocket eyes sustainable growth and new markets
“We’ve had a few reasonably good years and the investments have been largely funded by the business as well as invoicing finance. We’re really positive, the business has grown together and most importantly it’s been sustainable. We’ve certainly not gone mad,” said Rocket managing director Tim Porter. As part of the growth plan Gary Egan has joined as production manager, Andy Webb has been appointed to project manage a number of key client events and Steven Silverton joined to head up Rocket’s newly created retail division. The firm is also looking to further boost its installation teams and artwork studio later this year. The appointments follow the Watford firm taking on an additional factory unit over Christmas 2012, doubling its floor space. This enabled it to install a raft of refurbished kit, including a 3.2m-wide EFI Vutek QS3200 UV flatbed, two Mimaki JV5 series roll-to-roll printers, and a Zünd G3 digital cutter. “We’ve started to do a lot work in sport hospitality branding, which increasingly involves temporary walls wrapped with large-format graphics rather than the traditional, build, skin and paint structures,” said Porter. “The market seems to be growing and growing and the QS is perfect for that type of work because it enabled us to produce high-quality wraps up to 3.2m wide and most of the walls are up to 3m.” High-profile events the company has worked on this year include the Champions League Final at Wembley, Silverstone and the Paris Air Show. It also has a strong presence in the retail sector. The company also installed a refurbished 5m-wide HP Scitex solvent printer last year, which according to Porter enabled it to offer grand-format printer and gain a foothold in the fascia market. The company is now mulling an investment in a second grand-format press. The business is on track to achieve £4.2m in sales this year, compared to £3.3m last year and the company is targeting £5m next year. According to Porter, just as importantly the firm has so far maintained margin as it has grown. Once we got through £3m, which we had been trying to achieve for a number of years, it signalled a real step change in the business. We were lucky to get the services of ex-Service Graphics finance director David Wicks, who came on board to help drive growth and without him we might not have seen all these opportunities or grasped them,” said Porter. Wicks joined the business last April in a business development/finance role and helped Porter create a three-year growth plan....
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