Technotrans MD Benton shows he’s a real ‘nut’
Benton, who was mistaken for a potato and a coconut – not to mention an altogether more intimate type of ‘nut’ – was in fact dressed as a walnut (allegedly) for his fund-raising feat. The press ancillaries expert ran alongside friend and testicular cancer-survivor Mike Deed and was one of 32 runners raising cash for Orchid at the Royal Parks Foundation half marathon last month. Benton was said to be the only one of the 32 crazy enough to wear the charity’s nut costumer in support of its message to men everywhere: “Check your nuts!” He finished in a very respectable time of 01:45:16 – ranking him in 2,597th place of the 16,000 runners who took part in the event. The fastest male time on the day was 01:09:07....
read moreTechnotrans MD Benton shows he’s a real ‘nut’
Benton, who was mistaken for a potato and a coconut – not to mention an altogether more intimate type of ‘nut’ – was in fact dressed as a walnut (allegedly) for his fund-raising feat. The press ancillaries expert ran alongside friend and testicular cancer-survivor Mike Deed and was one of 32 runners raising cash for Orchid at the Royal Parks Foundation half marathon last month. Benton was said to be the only one of the 32 crazy enough to wear the charity’s nut costumer in support of its message to men everywhere: “Check your nuts!” He finished in a very respectable time of 01:45:16 – ranking him in 2,597th place of the 16,000 runners who took part in the event. The fastest male time on the day was 01:09:07....
read moreFujifilm partnerships leads to MicroDot sales boost
The tool, which is made by UK technology company ccDotmeter, combines a high-spec, off-the-shelf digital microscope with software from Centurfax. It allows users to measure the image on a plate and then calibrate the platesetter. In addition to being used in-house by Fujifilm’s plate specialists, the manufacturer recommends that its plate users purchase a dotmeter in order to check that their platesetter remains within tolerance. Fujifilm UK offset solutions product manager Sean Lane said: “Complex electro-mechanical equipment such as a platesetter does need checking regularly to ensure that the highest quality standards are still being maintained. “This is not a flaw in the plates or the imaging device. This is why printing standards such as ISO 12647-2 stipulate the need for a device to accurately measure plate creation equipment. “By investing a few hundred pounds in a MicroDot printers can save themselves a lot of expensive wasted time, spoilt print that goes in the bin, and annoyed customers. It’s a no brainer!” Paul Foster, sales director for ccDotmeter, said: “This is another great success for British software in the printing industry. Fujifilm is a company that focuses on print quality. “The microDot itself was thoroughly tested by Fujifilm both in the UK and at its Tilburg factory prior to Fujifilm Europe recommending the product to its subsidiary operations and dealerships.” The MicroDot is suitable for reading a wide range of plate types including Fujifilm’s Brillia HD PRO-T3 plate....
read moreLangley Group assets increase but margins fall on Manroland deal
Chairman Tony Langley revealed that the privately-owned Langley Holdings received a singificant revenue and net asset boost (€100m net of reorganisation costs) from the “bargain purchase” of Manroland in February 2012. However, with the German press manufacturer now structured to break-even and having its results included in Langley Holdings’ first-half statement for the first time, Langley revealed that over-capacity in the sector was likely to prevent Manroland making any significant contribution to the group’s bottom line. “There remains significant over-capacity in the market for these presses and with prices virtually stagnant since 2008, it is not difficult to see why the sector is languishing,” he said. “The pace of capacity realignment amongst competitors is slow and until such time as supply and demand in the sector are better matched and prices increase, I do not expect to see any significant operating contribution from the division.” As a result, while group revenues for the six months to 30 June 2013 rose 62% to €386m (June 2012: €238.2m), profit before tax was virtually unchanged at €40.4m (June 2012: €39.3m); year-on-year, the group’s first half pre-tax profit margin has dropped from 16.5% to 10.5%. Not that this will unduly concern Langley, as the group (which is debt-free) still expects to record a full year pre-tax profit €80m on its enlarged €850m forecast revenue (of which approximately €320m will come from Manroland). Manroland’s orders on hand at 30 June totalled €312.5m, which is expected to rise to €318.6m at the year end. In addition, Manroland was said to have “a strong cash position” and to be “trading without need of the group’s financial support”. Langley Holdings specialises in buying “under-performing or distressed capital equipment businesses with a strong market position and reputation” and re-organising them for the long term. The company pointed out that it has yet to sell any of the businesses it has bought....
read moreLangley Group assets increase but margins fall on Manroland deal
Chairman Tony Langley revealed that the privately-owned Langley Holdings received a singificant revenue and net asset boost (€100m net of reorganisation costs) from the “bargain purchase” of Manroland in February 2012. However, with the German press manufacturer now structured to break-even and having its results included in Langley Holdings’ first-half statement for the first time, Langley revealed that over-capacity in the sector was likely to prevent Manroland making any significant contribution to the group’s bottom line. “There remains significant over-capacity in the market for these presses and with prices virtually stagnant since 2008, it is not difficult to see why the sector is languishing,” he said. “The pace of capacity realignment amongst competitors is slow and until such time as supply and demand in the sector are better matched and prices increase, I do not expect to see any significant operating contribution from the division.” As a result, while group revenues for the six months to 30 June 2013 rose 62% to €386m (June 2012: €238.2m), profit before tax was virtually unchanged at €40.4m (June 2012: €39.3m); year-on-year, the group’s first half pre-tax profit margin has dropped from 16.5% to 10.5%. Not that this will unduly concern Langley, as the group (which is debt-free) still expects to record a full year pre-tax profit €80m on its enlarged €850m forecast revenue (of which approximately €320m will come from Manroland). Manroland’s orders on hand at 30 June totalled €312.5m, which is expected to rise to €318.6m at the year end. In addition, Manroland was said to have “a strong cash position” and to be “trading without need of the group’s financial support”. Langley Holdings specialises in buying “under-performing or distressed capital equipment businesses with a strong market position and reputation” and re-organising them for the long term. The company pointed out that it has yet to sell any of the businesses it has bought....
read morePrint sales go ‘off the chart’ in latest Adobe ad
The advert focuses on the fictional Encyclopedia Atlantica, which experiences a sudden and unexplained sales spike, leading its chief executive to phone the printers to proclaim: “We’re back!”As the presses roar into life the advert shows the impact across the whole print supply chain, before revealing the unexpected source of the sales spike in the climactic scene....
read morePrint sales go ‘off the chart’ in latest Adobe ad
The advert focuses on the fictional Encyclopedia Atlantica, which experiences a sudden and unexplained sales spike, leading its chief executive to phone the printers to proclaim: “We’re back!”As the presses roar into life the advert shows the impact across the whole print supply chain, before revealing the unexpected source of the sales spike in the climactic scene....
read moreHollywood Monster installs 3.2m wide MTEX 5032
The 3.2m-wide printer, launched at Fespa this year, has an in-built IR fixation unit and is made in Portugal by specialist textile printer manufacturer POD Iberia. It was installed at the Birmingham-based print business two weeks ago. Hollywood Monster sales director Simon McKenzie said: “When customers ask for a particular kind of print, like dye-sub for example, we have to listen. Demand has increased in the past six months and the MTEX 5032 ticked all the boxes for us.” The kit is an addition to existing equipment such as two 5m-wide HP Expedio roll-to-roll machines, a Vutek GS3200, a Mimaki JV33 and an HP Latex machine. Wide-format work by the company, with around 50 staff, includes jobs for museums and vehicles. McKenzie said the firm planned to start by “keeping it simple”, using the MTEX to print onto backlit, display textile and black-out polyester-based textiles. It will be used for short bespoke work, exhibition and retail displays, mostly indoor but a few outdoor applications as well. Features include a printing speed up to 58sqm/hour and a 1,440dpi maximum resolution. One of the first jobs, last week, was for the Birmingham REP Theatre for a production called Tartuffe. A 30m x 9m back-wall graphic had to be lightweight and free of creases. The job took round seven hours to print and five hours to sew together. McKenzie said: “The only way we could do the job was on a 220g fabric and on dye sub so there would be no creasing or UV cracking in the material. Print quality was an important factor and the vibrant colors work really well with the rest of the set.” McKenzie added the wide-format direct-to-textile work perfectly complemented the company’s existing wide-format business and he saw it growing as demand for flexible, lightweight and re-usable visual graphics became commonplace. The MTEX 5032 has four Epson DX5 print heads, a two-litre ink bulk system and four individually controlled temperature sensors, in addition to the IR fixation unit. DPI managing director Stewart Bell said: “No longer do you have to buy a printer and separate calendar – essentially halving production time compared with traditional digital methods. The inbuilt fixation unit saves time, money and wastage. The 5032 offers good quality for the price.” DPI has also supplied an MTEX 5032 to c3imaging in Liverpool and has an order for two at a large-format printer in the south Midlands. Prices range from £65,000 to £140,000 and models also include a superfast 1.8m version and an MTEX 500 adapted for polyamides and lycras....
read moreHollywood Monster installs 3.2m wide MTEX 5032
The 3.2m-wide printer, launched at Fespa this year, has an in-built IR fixation unit and is made in Portugal by specialist textile printer manufacturer POD Iberia. It was installed at the Birmingham-based print business two weeks ago. Hollywood Monster sales director Simon McKenzie said: “When customers ask for a particular kind of print, like dye-sub for example, we have to listen. Demand has increased in the past six months and the MTEX 5032 ticked all the boxes for us.” The kit is an addition to existing equipment such as two 5m-wide HP Expedio roll-to-roll machines, a Vutek GS3200, a Mimaki JV33 and an HP Latex machine. Wide-format work by the company, with around 50 staff, includes jobs for museums and vehicles. McKenzie said the firm planned to start by “keeping it simple”, using the MTEX to print onto backlit, display textile and black-out polyester-based textiles. It will be used for short bespoke work, exhibition and retail displays, mostly indoor but a few outdoor applications as well. Features include a printing speed up to 58sqm/hour and a 1,440dpi maximum resolution. One of the first jobs, last week, was for the Birmingham REP Theatre for a production called Tartuffe. A 30m x 9m back-wall graphic had to be lightweight and free of creases. The job took round seven hours to print and five hours to sew together. McKenzie said: “The only way we could do the job was on a 220g fabric and on dye sub so there would be no creasing or UV cracking in the material. Print quality was an important factor and the vibrant colors work really well with the rest of the set.” McKenzie added the wide-format direct-to-textile work perfectly complemented the company’s existing wide-format business and he saw it growing as demand for flexible, lightweight and re-usable visual graphics became commonplace. The MTEX 5032 has four Epson DX5 print heads, a two-litre ink bulk system and four individually controlled temperature sensors, in addition to the IR fixation unit. DPI managing director Stewart Bell said: “No longer do you have to buy a printer and separate calendar – essentially halving production time compared with traditional digital methods. The inbuilt fixation unit saves time, money and wastage. The 5032 offers good quality for the price.” DPI has also supplied an MTEX 5032 to c3imaging in Liverpool and has an order for two at a large-format printer in the south Midlands. Prices range from £65,000 to £140,000 and models also include a superfast 1.8m version and an MTEX 500 adapted for polyamides and lycras....
read moreTime runs out for The Colourhouse
A number of sources told PrintWeek that the locks were changed at the Deptford-based printer’s site on Wednesday, a day before wages were due to be paid, although this was unconfirmed. Speculation has been rife about The Colourhouse in recent weeks, with staff leaving, equipment being put up for sale and suppliers putting the company on stop. Meanwhile, a new company – Colourhouse 2013 – was registered at the same address as The Colourhouse on 1 October 2013. Colourhouse directors Randle White, Lee Reeves and David Arkell were all listed as directors of the new business, together with David Crowe and Michael O’Halloran. When contacted by PrintWeek on 16 October, Arkell initially denied knowledge of Colourhouse 2013 before stating that there were no plans to use the new company. Subsequent attempts to contact The Colourhouse went unanswered. PrintWeek understands that the company’s directors – Randle White, Lee Reeves and David Arkell – had attempted to save the business via a buyout or takeover. However, time appears to have run out this week after Bibby Financial Services filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators at the High Court on 29 October; at the time of writing an administrator had yet to be appointed. A source told PrintWeek: “The directors seem to have worked very hard to find a rescue plan but they have finally run out of options.” The firm installed a new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL106 earlier this year. It was at number 223 in last year’s PrintWeek Top 500 with sales of £10.6m and 83 employees (taken from accounts dated 31/12/2011)....
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