The Print Co Ltd, Cwmbran, has announced details of the creation of a new trade-focused, environmentally friendly printing service, with production capability based on a highly automated five-colour B2 Ryobi 750 Series press, Screen 4300 computer-to-plate system, and a range of finishing equipment purchased from Friedheim. The Ryobi 755 WD + coater includes the supplier’s first fully automatic plate loading (FRPC) installation in the UK.
Managing Director of The Print Co is Paul Harrison, who has created the new business following a long industry career that has included sales roles with B1 format print businesses in the West of England, as well as company directorships and “hands-on” roles in pre-press and printing companies. “I was keen to start out on my own, and an opportunity arose to do so working alongside a major customer of mine, Out of Hand – a leaflet distribution company. The concept of The Print Co was to invest in technology rather than large numbers of people, and create an efficient, environmentally focussed print business, that would provide a trade-based service for graphic designers, publishers, and other printers.
“Equipment selection was critical, and whilst Ryobi was certainly not on my initial list of likely presses, an advert detailing its extra-wide B2-plus format caught my eye. One key product for our publishing partner is A6 flyers. The 765mm printing width offered by the Ryobi 755 WD meant that we would be able to print five A6-sized products across the sheet and five down, leading to significant productivity benefits. As soon as we visited the UK distributor, Apex Digital Graphics, and saw the press in action, we knew that this was the one!”
The visit to Apex coincided with one of the Ryobi distributors “Solutions for Profit” open house events earlier in 2008, which led The Print Co to examine the finishing products offered by Friedheim – one of Apex’s guests at the event. This introduction led to the purchase of a JDF-compliant Schneider guillotine and MBO folder, and a Busch pile turner.
“JDF compatibility is an important issue for us, as we only have a team of five personnel. The more automated we can make the whole print production process, the better,” said Paul Harrison.
Automation at The Print Co starts with a job estimate. “Our customers can get an estimate without leaving their desks, or even talking to us! We have integrated the BrightBlue MIS system into our web site, which means that customers can just log in and get a price back in minutes. Because we are only dealing with print-savvy customers, they will then send us a print-ready PDF file for production, with job specifics being sent straight to the press and the finishing equipment. With the help of the ink volume setting (IVS) software on the Ryobi and the fully automated plate changing system we can make-ready on the press in just 12 minutes, and that includes setting up for coating or sealing. This is the level of automation that a printer needs to be equipped with to compete with digital production. We have calculated that we can be cost effective on runs as low as 100 copies.”
The company also utilises automated imposition software, which allows the correct placement and number of copies for a selection of flyers to be printed in one pass. The software also provides detailed cutting information via JDF for the imposition that has been created.
Such a focus on automation looks likely to lead to the five man team achieving its first year target of a £1.5 million turnover.
The Print Co is also keen to promote its environmental stance, which has been emphasised by the purchase of the Screen 4300 CtP system producing processless Fuji Brillia ProT plates. The press is configured to print alcohol free using vegetable oil based printing inks, which combine well with Ryobi’s well documented lower than average power consumption, and The Print Co’s use of FSC stocks, including fully recycled substrates where possible. “Printing still has a pretty bad image when it comes to green issues – we are trying to offer a fast and competitive service, but with an environmental focus on the products that we are producing,” added Paul Harrison.
The Ryobi 750 Series is a B2 format press capable of printing up to 15,000 sheets per hour on stock thicknesses of up to 0.6mm as standard. The press at The Print Co incorporates fully-automatic plate changing; IVS ink volume setter software, which takes ink profile data from the digital front-end; PDS print density control; program inking; plate register remote control; and automated wash-ups. The Print Co machine also includes an in-line coater, though Paul Harrison also says that they will use the fifth printing unit to add a sealer on jobs that do not require a specific, decorative coating. “The dedicated coater gives us the option of adding spot or full decorative coating to a job, but we can also use the fifth printing unit to add a sealer, which means that the job is virtually dry at the end of a run, and can be moved quickly on to the cutting process. The coater can be disengaged from the press whilst that type of work is being produced, which means that we can clean and prepare it for the next coating task.”
Commenting on the installation for Apex Digital Graphics, sales and marketing director Neil Handforth said: “We have been very impressed by the model created by The Print Co, with its focus on automation of the printing process. This has to be the way forward for a print-based company, and we are, of course, delighted that The Print Co found the Ryobi press matched its printing needs. Automatic plate loading is a major benefit in terms of make-ready time, as is the accuracy of information provided by the Ryobi Ink Volume Setting software. The key in this particular purchase, however, was the extra printing width offered by the 750W model.”
For more information on The Print Co please visit the www.theprintco.com or call 01633 480 881.
Apex Digital Graphics – The Solutions Provider
Apex Digital Graphics Limited is a specialist in the supply and service of pre-press and press equipment. Apex is the official UK distributor of Ryobi presses, Screen metal plate CtP systems, and the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units. The company offer national service coverage, and a one-stop shop for print consumables featuring next day delivery. Apex Digital Graphics can be contacted on 01442 235 236 or via the www.apexdigital.co.uk web site.
ENDS
RSS - Posts
