Arjowiggins announces further price hike
The increase will come into effect from 1 July and will apply to both sheets and reels. It follows from a £40 per tonne increase in April for the manufacturer’s wood-free coated papers, with the rising costs of raw materials, energy and transport again cited as the reasons for the rise. Both increases join a raft of price hikes from other paper manufacturers. Metsa Board also increased its prices for wood-free coated papers in April. Meanwhile Sappi Fine Paper Europe announced price increases for its graphic paper and coated fine paper range in February, and last month announced a 6% increase to specialty paper product prices, to come into effect from 1 July this year. The consensus when many of these rises were announced back in February, was that merchants would have no choice but to pass the full impact of these increases on to customers. Arjowiggins Graphic said that sales contacts would be in touch with customers shortly to “discuss further details and prepare implementation accordingly.”...
read moreGraphic Image Films expands substrate portfolio
Exclusive UK supplier for Spanish laminating film manufacturer, Derprosa, Graphic Image Films is now offering the company’s new Soft Touch range including new Black Soft Touch and Metalised Soft Touch films, which are suitable for both litho or digital printing. The newly available metalised range, which includes new colours solid red and blue matt films, can be over-printed, embossed, foiled or spot UV-coated. The company is targeting packaging firms of high-end products such as cosmetics, with the new metallic range. Graphic Image Films has also added gloss and matt BOPP-based, anti-bacterial films to its range, which are aimed at organisations where hygiene is paramount such as hospitals and children’s nurseries. The products are available in gloss and matt finishes. All prices depend on specification. Sales and marketing director Sandro Mosquera said that Graphic Image Films was unique in the UK with its ability to supply such a broad range of specialist laminating films in bespoke widths and reel lengths, with next day delivery. Mosquera said the new range of products on offer would allow clients in the printing and packaging industry to create more “luxurious and innovative” products. He added: “The market needs some new finishes like this, which is what everyone keeps telling us, instead of just going for the standard matt, gloss, silk for example.” “These products are BOPP-based meaning anyone with a standard laminating machine can work with them very easily so they are very adaptable. “We feel it is important for a company like ours to continually look for new products that our clients can then use to further improve their product range.” The 16-staff firm, based in Long Crendon, has a turnover of around £4.5m....
read moreArjowiggins announces further price hike
The increase will come into effect from 1 July and will apply to both sheets and reels. It follows from a £40 per tonne increase in April for the manufacturer’s wood-free coated papers, with the rising costs of raw materials, energy and transport again cited as the reasons for the rise. Both increases join a raft of price hikes from other paper manufacturers. Metsa Board also increased its prices for wood-free coated papers in April. Meanwhile Sappi Fine Paper Europe announced price increases for its graphic paper and coated fine paper range in February, and last month announced a 6% increase to specialty paper product prices, to come into effect from 1 July this year. The consensus when many of these rises were announced back in February, was that merchants would have no choice but to pass the full impact of these increases on to customers. Arjowiggins Graphic said that sales contacts would be in touch with customers shortly to “discuss further details and prepare implementation accordingly.”...
read moreGraphic Image Films expands substrate portfolio
Exclusive UK supplier for Spanish laminating film manufacturer, Derprosa, Graphic Image Films is now offering the company’s new Soft Touch range including new Black Soft Touch and Metalised Soft Touch films, which are suitable for both litho or digital printing. The newly available metalised range, which includes new colours solid red and blue matt films, can be over-printed, embossed, foiled or spot UV-coated. The company is targeting packaging firms of high-end products such as cosmetics, with the new metallic range. Graphic Image Films has also added gloss and matt BOPP-based, anti-bacterial films to its range, which are aimed at organisations where hygiene is paramount such as hospitals and children’s nurseries. The products are available in gloss and matt finishes. All prices depend on specification. Sales and marketing director Sandro Mosquera said that Graphic Image Films was unique in the UK with its ability to supply such a broad range of specialist laminating films in bespoke widths and reel lengths, with next day delivery. Mosquera said the new range of products on offer would allow clients in the printing and packaging industry to create more “luxurious and innovative” products. He added: “The market needs some new finishes like this, which is what everyone keeps telling us, instead of just going for the standard matt, gloss, silk for example.” “These products are BOPP-based meaning anyone with a standard laminating machine can work with them very easily so they are very adaptable. “We feel it is important for a company like ours to continually look for new products that our clients can then use to further improve their product range.” The 16-staff firm, based in Long Crendon, has a turnover of around £4.5m....
read moreBusiness as usual at Polestar
“Clients have been extremely supportive and everything is moving in the right direction,” said a Polestar spokesman. “All the reprinting bar one product has been contained within the Bicester site, which is the benefit of being part of a large group. If things like this ever happen then we can all pull together and make it work to get things out of the door,” he added. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the site, at Chaucer Business Park in Launton Road, Bicester, at around 1am on Monday after employees were unable to contain a fire that is believed to have started on a gas-powered forklift-truck. No-one was hurt. Speaking to PrintWeek yesterday afternoon (5 June) Rewley Road station manager David Bray said that more than 100 firefighters had so far attended the scene to tackle the blaze, which was under control. According to Bray around half of the “temporary structure” had been saved but specialist contractors were needed to remove the steel framework and collapsed roof from the remainder to allow fire crews access to stop “the huge piles and pallets of print” from smoldering. No printing equipment was damaged, Bray confirmed. Among the raft of business, glossy and consumer titles printed at the site is free publication Time Out, of which more than 225,000 copies were destroyed, forcing the publisher to delay distribution until Thursday. Around 80,000 and copies were salvaged distributed as usual to subscribers, cultural institutions, retailers, clubs, pubs and restaurants, while the edition for Thursday’s distribution was being printed ready to be delivered to an alternative warehouse for distribution on Thursday morning, the publisher said. Time Out managing director Greg Miall said: “This is the first time that this kind of situation has arisen in over 44 years of production and whilst some magazines survived, we will not be able to distribute as usual until Thursday this week. “We are just grateful that no-one was hurt in the incident and ask that our readers and users continue to use our website and continue to engage with us through our social networks and through comments and reviews.” A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said that it would remain at the scene for at least the next 24-hours to ensure safety and oversee salvage work. One officer is currently on site and a formal investigation is underway but the fire is not being treated as suspicious....
read moreFormat Graphics installs UK’s first EFI Vutek LED GS3250LX
Managing director Baz Ogle took delivery of the wide-format digital inkjet printer shortly after launching his company in Milton Keynes, this March. He said he had considered the circa-£350,000 investment for six months before he committed. EFI launched the Vutek GS3250LX UV-curing digital inkjet printer in 2011, as a “true breakthrough in high-speed super-wide inkjet printing technology”. It is vaunted as “a greener printing solution” that uses “cool cure” LED technology allowing the machine to consume less energy, increase printer uptime and reduce maintenance. The model is also available with regular mercury lamps. “The standard UV versions can get quite hot but with these LED lamps there is less heat, less cooling time and a lot cheaper running costs. The LED technology also allows us to run thinner PVC and other materials without warping,” said Ogle, who was a founder of nearby company Icon Graphics before starting his new business. The new eight-staff company, whose customers include agencies for blue-chip clients, prints on self-adhesive PVC and foam-mix substrates for posters, displays and exhibition materials. Ogle said with the new investment he hoped to make a turnover of £1m in his first year. “The main stand-out quality on the GS3250LX is speed; it runs at 90sqm per hour and can roll out an 8ft by 4ft foam display in under three minutes. I’ve used Vutek before and the print quality is unbeatable,” said Ogle. Other equipment at Format Graphics includes a Zünd 3m x 2m digital finishing machine and a 3m x 2m router. Commenting on total sales for the GS3250LX since its 2011 launch, an EFI spokesman said that global figures were “healthy”....
read moreFormat Graphics installs UK’s first EFI Vutek LED GS3250LX
Managing director Baz Ogle took delivery of the wide-format digital inkjet printer shortly after launching his company in Milton Keynes, this March. He said he had considered the circa-£350,000 investment for six months before he committed. EFI launched the Vutek GS3250LX UV-curing digital inkjet printer in 2011, as a “true breakthrough in high-speed super-wide inkjet printing technology”. It is vaunted as “a greener printing solution” that uses “cool cure” LED technology allowing the machine to consume less energy, increase printer uptime and reduce maintenance. The model is also available with regular mercury lamps. “The standard UV versions can get quite hot but with these LED lamps there is less heat, less cooling time and a lot cheaper running costs. The LED technology also allows us to run thinner PVC and other materials without warping,” said Ogle, who was a founder of nearby company Icon Graphics before starting his new business. The new eight-staff company, whose customers include agencies for blue-chip clients, prints on self-adhesive PVC and foam-mix substrates for posters, displays and exhibition materials. Ogle said with the new investment he hoped to make a turnover of £1m in his first year. “The main stand-out quality on the GS3250LX is speed; it runs at 90sqm per hour and can roll out an 8ft by 4ft foam display in under three minutes. I’ve used Vutek before and the print quality is unbeatable,” said Ogle. Other equipment at Format Graphics includes a Zünd 3m x 2m digital finishing machine and a 3m x 2m router. Commenting on total sales for the GS3250LX since its 2011 launch, an EFI spokesman said that global figures were “healthy”....
read moreOptichrome mourns Ted Stephens
The Woking-based printing company was founded by Stephens’ father Ken in 1963 and remains a family-owned and run business. After studying graphic reproduction and lithographic printing processes, followed by a business studies course, Stephens joined Optichrome in 1970 when it had just six staff. The firm issued a tribute, and said: “Ted’s life touched so many people; family, friends and work colleagues leaving a lasting imprint on all their hearts. “Through Ted’s hard work, innovation and dedication he grew Optichrome into the modern, thriving printing company that it is today employing over 60 staff.” Just last month Stephens attended a special family fun day for Optichrome employees as part of a series of celebrations to mark the company’s 50 years in business. Optichrome has a long history of innovation and was also the original developer of the Optimus MIS system, now a separate business. Suppliers also paid tribute. Xeikon operations director Simon Meadows described Stephens as a “trailblazer” in his approach to digital printing. He said: “He was one of the first to go into digital and really at the forefront of it. He helped to start it and push it and was really a trailblazer in that respect.” Stephens is survived by his wife Christine, four children and five grandchildren. His daughter Natalie is group director at Optichrome. The funeral will be held on Friday 14 June at 11am at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Pirbright, Surrey. Family flowers only. Donations can be made to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation via www.justgiving.com/TedStephens....
read moreOptichrome mourns Ted Stephens
The Woking-based printing company was founded by Stephens’ father Ken in 1963 and remains a family-owned and run business. After studying graphic reproduction and lithographic printing processes, followed by a business studies course, Stephens joined Optichrome in 1970 when it had just six staff. The firm issued a tribute, and said: “Ted’s life touched so many people; family, friends and work colleagues leaving a lasting imprint on all their hearts. “Through Ted’s hard work, innovation and dedication he grew Optichrome into the modern, thriving printing company that it is today employing over 60 staff.” Just last month Stephens attended a special family fun day for Optichrome employees as part of a series of celebrations to mark the company’s 50 years in business. Optichrome has a long history of innovation and was also the original developer of the Optimus MIS system, now a separate business. Suppliers also paid tribute. Xeikon operations director Simon Meadows described Stephens as a “trailblazer” in his approach to digital printing. He said: “He was one of the first to go into digital and really at the forefront of it. He helped to start it and push it and was really a trailblazer in that respect.” Stephens is survived by his wife Christine, four children and five grandchildren. His daughter Natalie is group director at Optichrome. The funeral will be held on Friday 14 June at 11am at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Pirbright, Surrey. Family flowers only. Donations can be made to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation via www.justgiving.com/TedStephens....
read moreDuplo to boost headcount and make Fespa debut
The post-press kit manufacturer and reseller posted sales of £9.4m from June 2012 to May 2013, signalling a 5% increase year-on-year. “Market conditions are still tough, but we’ve got such a talented and passionate team here and they’ve worked tirelessly this year – having a great product range also helps,” said Peter Jolly, who was promoted to UK managing director last September. The numbers are currently being audited, so Jolly declined to reveal contribution figures but he said that profit growth was looking to be in line with or slightly ahead of sales growth. “We are profitable and at the minute it looks like this year we will have recorded a five-year revenue and net profit high for the UK. So we’re looking like we’ll be back to where we were before the downturn,” he said. According to Jolly, the breadth of the company’s customer base; from office users and small implants, largely supplied by its established dealer reseller network, up to large inplants and commercial digital and litho operations were key to its growth. “We’ve got a nice spot in the market and we’re becoming increasingly relevant to larger printers too, we’re gaining significant traction with some of the top 50 companies from the PrintWeek Top 500 for example,” he added. The company is looking to develop its customer base further and as part of this strategy its set to make its Fespa debut later this month. The company is in the process of finalising its appearance at the wide-format show, where it is set to demonstrate one of its DC family of digital cutter/creasers. “A lot of our customers are heading towards the packaging market and that drove us to look at taking a stand at Fespa,” said Duplo international commercial manager Samantha Mee. Following the strong figures for 2012/2013 Jolly said the company was targeting sales of £10m in its new financial. To support this growth it was looking to increase headcount at the 65 staff operation by boosting its sales and marketing operation with five new appointments in the coming months. The company currently has no plans to bolster its headcount of 30 technical staff in the UK. “In the downturn we held on to our service staff because we realised that they were critical to our reputation, but the sales side was slightly whittled down. We’re now going to put our foot firmly back on the gas though,” said Jolly. The company is hosting an open house event on the 18-20 June at its Addlestone, Surrey headquarters – for more information on the Print Finishing First event, click here....
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