Chesapeake enlists in blanket renewal programme
According to the Vancouver-based business, printers can cut up to 70% off their annual blanket spend by enlisting in the programme. This involves Enviro Image Solutions analysing unique physical damage on each press blanket in a bid to identify issues that reduce its life and production efficiency. It then makes “pressroom specific” recommendations to prevent the damage from recurring, allowing the blankets to be reused. Steve Johns, continuous improvement coordinator at Chesapeake Leicester, said: “We found each rejuvenated blanket can be renewed around 5 times. We aim to reduce blanket costs and general waste going to landfill.” Earlier this year Chesapeake had the world’s longest B1 Heidelberg press, comprising 17 units and an inline cold foiling option, installed at its East Kilbride facility. The XL 106 perfector arrived at the Scottish plant at the end of last year and has taken over three months to commission. The 17 units include 10 printing towers, three coaters and four drying units. The coating towers are installed both before and after the printing and perfecting section to enable Chesapeake to apply matt, gloss and pearlescent finishes both inside and outside...
read moreChesapeake enlists in blanket renewal programme
According to the Vancouver-based business, printers can cut up to 70% off their annual blanket spend by enlisting in the programme. This involves Enviro Image Solutions analysing unique physical damage on each press blanket in a bid to identify issues that reduce its life and production efficiency. It then makes “pressroom specific” recommendations to prevent the damage from recurring, allowing the blankets to be reused. Steve Johns, continuous improvement coordinator at Chesapeake Leicester, said: “We found each rejuvenated blanket can be renewed around 5 times. We aim to reduce blanket costs and general waste going to landfill.” Earlier this year Chesapeake had the world’s longest B1 Heidelberg press, comprising 17 units and an inline cold foiling option, installed at its East Kilbride facility. The XL 106 perfector arrived at the Scottish plant at the end of last year and has taken over three months to commission. The 17 units include 10 printing towers, three coaters and four drying units. The coating towers are installed both before and after the printing and perfecting section to enable Chesapeake to apply matt, gloss and pearlescent finishes both inside and outside...
read morePrint Efficiently heads to Hemel Hemsptead for October showcase
An annual event since its launch in 2011, this year’s iteration will be held at Apex Digital Graphic’s Hemel Hempstead showroom from 1 to 10 October and will feature a comprehensive exhibitor schedule and educational programme from industry experts. Also confirmed for the October residency are Vpress, KAS Paper Systems, PDC, Lake Image Systems, Shuttleworth Business Systems and Antalis McNaughton. Apex Digital Graphics managing director Bob Usher said: “Our inaugural involvement last year enabled us to meet many new contacts and generate significant leads – one of which was Geerings Print which has just installed a Ryobi 920. “The format allows us to have more detailed and rewarding conversations. It also enables us meet new operations that are interested in exploring how our technologies can help them.” The two-week showcase will feature live demonstrations of the new digital and litho printing technologies, as well as automated finishing equipment. Kodak UK marketing manager Dave McGuiness added: “It is a unique platform to meet with our customers and demonstrate real working solutions and production efficiencies in a far more hands-on and relaxed atmosphere than at exhibitions.”...
read morePrint Efficiently heads to Hemel Hemsptead for October showcase
An annual event since its launch in 2011, this year’s iteration will be held at Apex Digital Graphic’s Hemel Hempstead showroom from 1 to 10 October and will feature a comprehensive exhibitor schedule and educational programme from industry experts. Also confirmed for the October residency are Vpress, KAS Paper Systems, PDC, Lake Image Systems, Shuttleworth Business Systems and Antalis McNaughton. Apex Digital Graphics managing director Bob Usher said: “Our inaugural involvement last year enabled us to meet many new contacts and generate significant leads – one of which was Geerings Print which has just installed a Ryobi 920. “The format allows us to have more detailed and rewarding conversations. It also enables us meet new operations that are interested in exploring how our technologies can help them.” The two-week showcase will feature live demonstrations of the new digital and litho printing technologies, as well as automated finishing equipment. Kodak UK marketing manager Dave McGuiness added: “It is a unique platform to meet with our customers and demonstrate real working solutions and production efficiencies in a far more hands-on and relaxed atmosphere than at exhibitions.”...
read moreH&H Reeds appoints new manager to spearhead exhibition work
Customer account manager Steve Wray joins the company from Shanley’s Printers of Bolton in Lancashire and he will be based at H&H Reeds Printers’ Milnthorpe premises in Cumbria, where he will be responsible for print sales across the county. “My new employer acquired Cypher Digital about 12 months ago and part of my remit is to introduce an MIS system, which they already have in their bases at Penrith and Carlisle,” he said. “The company wants to strengthen an existing foothold in digital work. “It already handles digital work at Penrith but the depot at Milnthorpe has expertise in exhibition work. The nine staff run Xerox kit and an array of wide-format equipment.” H&H Reeds Printers said it had made big changes to the processes and materials used to ensure it protected the environment. It is now recognised in the “top 1% of all UK printers” for its green credentials, the firm claimed. Wray said: “Environmental credentials are becoming increasingly important and as H&H Reeds are accredited with having one of the best eco-friendly working practices in the country, I am keen to help further reduce the company’s carbon footprint.” H&H Reeds Printers, originally established in 1878 in Penrith to serve the needs of local customers, is now the largest print company in Cumbria. Managing director Dene Marshall said Wray had an “almost unrivalled level of experience” in the industry....
read moreSurprise bid by Goss for former French operation
Web offset press manufacturer Goss International France officially entered redressement judicaire, the French equivalent of administration, on 3 April this year. An administrator was appointed by the French Commercial Court of Compiègne to run the company for an initial restructuring period of six months. Goss International stated that its intention was to create an organisational structure “based around regional parts, services and support centres with a unified, pan-continental sales and service organisation in Europe”. Prospective buyers had until last Tuesday (21 May) to submit expressions of interest. According to French website OuestFrance.fr, Goss International, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Electric, was the only company to make a submission. As part of the deal it is understood that Goss International plans to create a Dutch entity with a French subsidiary that would carry out after-sales and engineering services, although this could not be confirmed at the time of writing. A Goss spokesperson is reported to have told the French publication that Goss France, which currently employs around 320 staff at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Montataire and 110 at its site in Nantes, intended to retain just 94 employees following the restructure. Montataire previously had its workforce cut by almost 50% during a restructure in 2010 when Goss reduced its headcount by 300. Confirming insolvency proceedings last month president and chief executive of Goss International Rick Nichols said that transformation and refocusing on growth was critical for the future of the business. He added: “Goss has been through a decade of change, but I am confident we are near the end of that period. We have had to take some very difficult decisions, but these were absolutely necessary in light of the facts.” More to...
read moreH&H Reeds appoints new manager to spearhead exhibition work
Customer account manager Steve Wray joins the company from Shanley’s Printers of Bolton in Lancashire and he will be based at H&H Reeds Printers’ Milnthorpe premises in Cumbria, where he will be responsible for print sales across the county. “My new employer acquired Cypher Digital about 12 months ago and part of my remit is to introduce an MIS system, which they already have in their bases at Penrith and Carlisle,” he said. “The company wants to strengthen an existing foothold in digital work. “It already handles digital work at Penrith but the depot at Milnthorpe has expertise in exhibition work. The nine staff run Xerox kit and an array of wide-format equipment.” H&H Reeds Printers said it had made big changes to the processes and materials used to ensure it protected the environment. It is now recognised in the “top 1% of all UK printers” for its green credentials, the firm claimed. Wray said: “Environmental credentials are becoming increasingly important and as H&H Reeds are accredited with having one of the best eco-friendly working practices in the country, I am keen to help further reduce the company’s carbon footprint.” H&H Reeds Printers, originally established in 1878 in Penrith to serve the needs of local customers, is now the largest print company in Cumbria. Managing director Dene Marshall said Wray had an “almost unrivalled level of experience” in the industry....
read moreSurprise bid by Goss for former French operation
Web offset press manufacturer Goss International France officially entered redressement judicaire, the French equivalent of administration, on 3 April this year. An administrator was appointed by the French Commercial Court of Compiègne to run the company for an initial restructuring period of six months. Goss International stated that its intention was to create an organisational structure “based around regional parts, services and support centres with a unified, pan-continental sales and service organisation in Europe”. Prospective buyers had until last Tuesday (21 May) to submit expressions of interest. According to French website OuestFrance.fr, Goss International, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Electric, was the only company to make a submission. As part of the deal it is understood that Goss International plans to create a Dutch entity with a French subsidiary that would carry out after-sales and engineering services, although this could not be confirmed at the time of writing. A Goss spokesperson is reported to have told the French publication that Goss France, which currently employs around 320 staff at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Montataire and 110 at its site in Nantes, intended to retain just 94 employees following the restructure. Montataire previously had its workforce cut by almost 50% during a restructure in 2010 when Goss reduced its headcount by 300. Confirming insolvency proceedings last month president and chief executive of Goss International Rick Nichols said that transformation and refocusing on growth was critical for the future of the business. He added: “Goss has been through a decade of change, but I am confident we are near the end of that period. We have had to take some very difficult decisions, but these were absolutely necessary in light of the facts.” More to...
read moreEpson to showcase eight SureColor inkjets together for the first time
The line-up will include its two most recent machines: the SureColor SC-F6000 and SC-F7000 dye-sublimation printers. The SC-F6000 prints up to 44-inches (1.1m) wide at speeds of 63sqm per hour and costs £4,795. The SC-F7000 prints up to 64-inches (1.6m) wide at speeds of 57sqm per hour and costs £15,695. A spokeswoman said: “The machines target the soft signage and sportswear market. These are the first dye-sublimation printers from Epson, and this is the first time every part of the printer has been manufactured by one company, from ink and printhead, to printer chassis. The printers use Epson UltraChrome DS ink, a specially developed new aqueous ink, which produces high-quality images with intense blacks, sharp contours and smooth gradations, said the company. “Dye-sublimation is ideal for printing and transferring scratch-resistant, photographic quality images onto a wide range of substrates that are difficult to print on to directly such as aluminium, steel, plastics, MDF board and ceramic tiles.” Over the past 18 months, Epson has launched eight SureColor inkjet printers. Also on show are three 64-inch SureColor SC-S printers for POS, signs and wallpaper graphics; and a 44-inch SureColor SC-T printer. According to Epson, the 44-inch, four-colour SureColor SC-T7000 with UltraChrome XD ink is good where speed and economy are paramount, such as CAD, GIS, custom banners, presentations and indoor signage. It costs £3,594 and produces an A1 print in 28 seconds. “The printer is fastest in its class and features software that gives users a large selection of pre-defined layouts, including themed graphics for fashion, groceries, travel, toys and more, making it ideal for short-term...
read moreH&H Reeds Printers uses council grant for apprentice training
The new faces, Ben Pearson, Alex Saunders and Daniel Jones, will receive specialist training in key processes in the company. Pearson, who’s 20, is an apprentice print finisher, Saunders, aged 18, is training to be a pre-press operator, and Jones, also 18, is an apprentice digital print finisher. The apprentices will undertake two years of training at the Penrith print company, which is based at three sites and produces leaflets, booklets, signs, displays and banners for the local authority and private-sector clients. The BPIF training scheme enables H&H Reeds Printers to offer them training, employment, and a “first rung on the ladder”, said joint managing director Andy Jackson, who received grants of around £500 from Cumbria County Council for two of the apprentices. “We offer diversity in training and want our apprentices to be ambitious. They will be given a grounding in business skills and marketing and learn about the individual divisions within the company. Each has been assigned a ‘buddy’ to help support their first steps in the business world.” H&H Reeds Printers is part of The H&H Group, based in Carlisle and dates back more than 140 years. Around 28% of employees are aged under 30, said human resources manager Margaret Irving. “We had heard there was funding available from the council, which is more likely to award grants to fund training if there’s a real likelihood it will lead to long-term employment. Our drive to employ apprentices is working very well. “We are tending to attract people who ummed and ahed about going to university and were maybe put off by the cost of fees and loans so decided to go down the route of vocational training. We’ve got some really good people. “The apprentices will receive support and specialist training, and they must complete standard specific training modules such as health and safety in the workplace. For the long-term partnership to continue they will then each have to demonstrate they can do their...
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