GenesisNews: 2009 Top Ten

Having already featured some of our own favourite stories of the year, it is now time for us to showcase the stories that you, our visitors, found most compelling. These are effectively the news items that you have voted for with your clicks as being the stories that you wanted to find out about:

1. Parrot Print Installs Third Ryobi Press

There was something about this B3 landscape press installation that caught peoples interest. It was the most read story on GenesisNews for 2009, and must therefore win some sort of award!

2. Ryobi DI Elected Winner by Kall Kwik Horsham

The compelling story of a Kall Kwik franchise that has created strong ties with political party UKIP. Ryobi’s UK distributor, Apex Digital Graphics, was delighted to find the perfect application for its DI solution.

3. Benson Group Make UK Packaging Awards Shortlist

Unfortunately the appearance on the shortlist this year didn’t lead to Benson Group retaining its Packaging Company of the Year Award, but this release was certainly well read.

4. Apex Launches Five Colour Ryobi GE Press

Towards the end of 2009 Ryobi announced the introduction of the 525GE press. A full independent review of the machine can be found here.

5. StudioRIP to Exhibit at PRINT 09

At least one UK exhibitor caused a stir at PRINT 09 in Chicago. Whilst the show might not have received rave reviews with regard to attendance, the StudioRIP team were delighted with the show.

6. LED-UV Makes B2 Debut for Ryobi at PRINT 09

A second PRINT 09 mention in 6^th place, as Ryobi expands its LED-UV concept up to B2 format. This introduction has certainly caught the print sectors imagination.

7. Reflections Optix: A 3D Print Revolution

In a year when printers have been desperate for new innovations, finishing specialist Reflections introduced Optix, a new and exciting 3D print solution. See the new Reflections web site for more samples.

8. New Premises for Marlowe Graphic Services

Whilst many businesses were feeling the pinch in 2009, the pre-press specialists at Marlowe Graphic Services enjoyed a good year in service, with customers keen to hang on to their pre-press systems rather than spend on new.

9. Reflections: Feel the Fabric

More finishing excellence at number 9, with Reflections bringing new and exciting laminated solutions to the world of print. The story was well covered by the trade press.

10. Hine Labels Open House Featuring Xeikon 3000

Following its purchase of the UK’s first Xeikon 3000 digital label printing system, Hine Labels, Rotherham, showed off its new investment with an open house.

ENDS

Capacity and Contingency for Borble

Barry Griffiths and Gavin Scott, Borble directors

Rhyl-based digital label printing specialist Borble has announced the installation of the latest version of the GM finishing line for its original Xeikon 330 digital label press. The upgrade brings both of the company’s Xeikon presses (Xeikon 3300 and 330) to the same high standard of inline finishing.

Borble purchased its first Xeikon 330 complete with the full original GM finishing line in 2005. Since then the press and control system have been maintained and up-graded in parallel with Borble introducing their on-line web to print service www.labelsprint.com and LabelFlow variable data process.

In January 2009 Borble added the UK’s first Xeikon 3300 so the company has the capacity and contingency to deliver value, quality in a fast service. Now in its fifth year Borble run both presses on a two shift system and has printed some 40,000 different label designs.

Because Borble is entirely digital it does not need to make plates so a fast and cost effective service is achievable as long as there is sufficient press capacity available at all times. With the 3300 came the latest GM finishing line with improved registration, drive motors and controls and now Borble have swapped-out their original GM line for the latest version so both presses have the same highest standard of inline label finishing including UV varnish, over-lamination, die-cutting, slitting and reeling.

“Inline finishing on two presses is the position of critical mass that is needed to adequately serve the needs of our customers,” says Gavin Scott, Managing Director of Borble.

Controversially, following a period of technology and market research, Borble brought the first Xeikon 330 into the UK in 2005. “Equally innovative has been our introduction of the 3300 and our further commitment to customer service by running each press with the full suite of inline post processing ,” says Scott.

Borble co-founder Barry Griffiths added: “The digital label printing technology we selected for this business is modular, maintained, robust and reliable, and is backed by manufacturers support and our own trained staff. The label printing resource within Borble is unique in the EU and enables us to economically deliver a fast short run printed label service even when one press is receiving maintenance or up-grade attention. The simple fact is that digital presses do require occasional maintenance. We, however, need to be able to meet urgent needs of our customers all the time. Therefore this additional finishing capacity is vital to continuity of the short run label service we deliver to our customers, who tend not to hold label stock but look to us for a just-in-time service.”

Contact Borble for further information on digital label production and samples through the www.labelsprint.com web site.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

ENDS

Watch the Xeikon 3300 digital label press in action – click here for a short video of the product.

Cartonboard Gets Festive at Benson Group!

Benson Group, the UK’s leading privately owned carton printer, with headquarters in Bardon, Leicestershire, has illustrated just how festive cartonboard can be with the creation of a Christmas tree for the St Peter’s Church, Swepstone, Christmas Tree Festival of 2009.

The tree was designed by Benson Group’s own in-house constructional design specialist Nikki Clark and design student Suzy Shelley, and it stands some 7 feet high.

Inspiration for the entry came from the company’s Managing Director Mark Kerridge, who lives in the St Peter’s Church parish. “The Christmas Tree Festival was organised to attract visitors to the church and to raise funds for the upkeep of the building. When the call for entries came, I thought it might be an interesting challenge for our design department to come up with something made from cartonboard ,” said Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Broup.

The Benson Group tree was one of some 30 entries, with the event being officially opened by local MP David Taylor on December 5^th.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

ENDS

The cardboard tree story now features on the Packaging News web site.

For information on one of Benson Group’s recent press investments click here for a short video.

GenesisNews: Best of 2009 Part 2, July to December

Get Touchy Feely with Fabric Lamination

Whilst 2009 might not be a year that many will want to celebrate from a business perspective, there has been good news during the course of the year. As we near the end of 2009, it is surely a good time to focus on some of those stories that we enjoyed publishing on GenesisNews. This batch is from the second half of the year: (click the headline of any story for the full version)

July 2009: Portfolios Show Guide a Touching Success

Portfolios, a combined exhibition and seminar staged by the owners of The Creative Handbook and Creative Review, which took place in June, utilised the recently launched “Fabric” lamination product from Reflections for the cover of its show guide and product catalogue.

August 2009: Low-Chemistry Plates for Arlon Printers

Arlon Printers Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, has made a significant environmental statement by becoming one of the first UK printers to adopt the new Brillia HD PRO-V low-chemistry plate from Fujifilm. The plates are being used in conjunction with a Screen Plate Rite 2055vi platesetter, and both plates and computer-to-plate device have been purchased through Apex Digital Graphics.

August 2009: Able-Labels Further Enabled with StudioRIP

Able-Labels, Earls Barton, Northampton, leaders in the production of printed self-adhesive address labels and other personalised goods since 1954, has announced details regarding the purchase of StudioRIP to enhance the company’s pre-press department.

September 2009: Reflections Optix: A 3D Revolution

Reflections has announced the release of Optix, a print based product that provides a new and innovative three-dimensional optical illusion. The technology was originally developed in America, but after a recent deal with the patent holder, Reflections are proud to announce they have exclusive rights to develop and produce Optix in UK and Europe.

October 2009: Europe’s First Komori Lithrone SX40 for Benson Group

Europe’s first Komori Lithrone SX40 sheet fed press has been installed at Benson Group’s Integrated Packaging site in Gateshead. The 18,000 sheets per hour, 40 inch press is equipped with six print units and a coating unit capable of adding UV or water-based finishes.

November 2009: StudioRIP Announces New Activity in North America

StudioRIP, the UK-based independent software RIP provider, has announced details regarding the its newly formed relationship with Newtec Systems Inc, based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The company is to act as a distributor for the StudioRIP software in both Canada and USA.

December 2009: Integrity Print Expands into Digital Labels with Xeikon

Specialist trade print business, Integrity Print, Midsomer Norton, has announced details of an investment that will expand the company’s presence into the digital label market. The Xeikon 3300 digital label press, complete with in-line finishing, will be working alongside the company’s existing flexographic narrow-web presses.

ENDS

New Midlands-based CtP Bureau Launched

Quay 63 is the new name in the computer-to-plate bureau sector. The company has been launched to provide B3 and B2 metal offset-litho plates from its Shrewsbury headquarters in the West Midlands.

“We believe that there is a place in the market for a CtP bureau that can provide a fast and reliable service, utilising ISO12647-2 colour management as a basis for product quality and consistency,” said Managing Director Steve Edwards. “Our research suggested to us that whilst there are companies to provide “plates only” in the South East and the North East of the country, there was nobody that we could find providing such a service in or around the Midlands. Whilst there are printers that will provide plates as an additional service, how many “plate only” customers want to place their outwork with a competitor?”

The company is in a position to provide press ready metal plates for B2 and B3 presses via its HighWater Python CtP device, along with ISO 12647-2 colour managed proofs via its Epson Stylus Pro 9880.

“We know of a number of companies who are still relying on film output. Film is becoming a rare commodity these days, and users will have to make a switch to CtP in the very near future. With most of the country within a two hour drive of Shrewsbury, we are convinced that we have a winning formula,” added Steve Edwards. Soft proofs of all files will be e-mailed back to plate customers prior to plate exposure in order to double-check imposed content.

Quay 63 will also be keen to fit into B3 and B2 printers disaster recovery plans. “Print businesses need to have plans in place in case trouble strikes: whether that be technical problems or people problems. Pre-press personnel are just too expensive to allow for one to be employed on “stand-by” just in case somebody is ill or on holiday. Quay 63 can help to provide an insurance policy for printers.”

Printers are being given the opportunity to “test drive” the Quay 63 service by ordering, for a limited period of time, a complementary set of plates. They can also download free software that will allow for the fast and efficient uploading of files to the Quay 63 secure servers. Visit www.quay63.co.uk for more information.

Quay 63 can also be contacted by telephone on 01743 367 382.

ENDS

See PrintWeek.com’s version of this news story.

GenesisNews and the Best of PrintWeek 2009

Bill Hine and his Xeikon 3000

One key area for the promotion of Genesis Marketing news items is the UK’s leading printing industry publication, PrintWeek, in conjunction with its web site www.printweek.com. Here we review just a handful of the 80-plus GenesisNews stories included within the pages of PrintWeek during 2009:

January: Benson Group in Profile following a visit to the company’s head office in Bardon, Leicestershire by PrintWeek journalist Helen Morris.

January: The SRA1 format Ryobi 920 featured as a “Product of the Week”. Full details of the story can be found by clicking here.

March: Hine Labels Xeikon label press purchase was included as a news item on the digital page. Click here for the full story.

June: Reflections own glue manufacturing plant, Solutions, featured with a story detailing its first glue exports. Catch up on Solutions here.

August: “Me & My” feature on the Ryobi 755 + Coater at Leicestershire County Council. Check out this B2-format press and how it completely changed the business of this in-plant here.

August: Another “Me and My” feature on the Xeikon 3000 digital label press, as in use in this case at CS Labels in the West Midlands.

September: UK-based independent RIP supplier StudioRIP at Print 09. One of the few success stories of the show.

October: Packaging specialist Benson Group Buys Europe’s First Komori LSX40 for one of its North East based production plants. Find out more.

December: A Product of the Week feature on the recently introduced Ryobi 525GE offset litho press. The small footprint of this machine makes it ideal for printers where space is at a premium. Click here to read more.

ENDS

Integrity Print Expands into Digital Labels with Xeikon

Specialist trade print business, Integrity Print, Midsomer Norton, has announced details of an investment that will expand the company’s presence into the digital label market. The Xeikon 3300 digital label press, complete with in-line finishing, will be installed at the company during December 2009, working alongside the company’s existing flexographic narrow-web presses.

Commenting on the order for Xeikon digital label printing equipment, Andrew Law, Commercial Manager at Integrity Print, said: “Following the acquisition of various trading assets of the Topflite Labels business back in February of this year, we were keen to further invest and expand the capabilities of our flexographic-based label department. Our analysis of the workload in labels showed us that some half-a-million pounds worth of existing work was actually more suited to digital production.

“Whilst that alone was a good enough reason to establish a digital printing section, the knock-on effect of taking that business off the flexographic presses would immediately give us significantly more capacity on these machines. The short-run jobs, often consisting of a three hour make-ready for one hour, or less, of printing time, were making it quite difficult for us to schedule in our long-run work. The addition of the Xeikon will ensure that the flexo presses are much better utilised, whilst also allowing us to be much more efficient in the production of short-run labels. It really does provide our customers, and us, with a win-win situation!”

Integrity Print handles a wide range of print business for the trade, with print management companies and print brokers providing its sole customer focus. The £60 million turnover company employs 385 people, and runs 50 different presses – the new Xeikon machine being the 51^st.

With regard to the decision to purchase the Xeikon press, Andrew Law added: “We had a project team review the options available to us in the market. They evaluated the digital label machines that were on the market by quality, price, and the cost per label produced. The evaluation also took in visits to customer reference sites. Overall, the Xeikon certainly proved to be the best machine to meet our needs. The 1200 x 3600 dpi imaging resolution coupled with Xeikon’s FA toner gave some of the highest quality images that I have seen from a digital label press.”

The five-unit press features the ability to print standard four-colour process along with an opaque white, a special colour, or a security toner. The Xeikon 3300 will print at up to 19.2 meters per minute, with a monthly duty cycle of up to 700,000 meters. Imaging width is up to 322mm, and the machine can print on materials from as light as 40gsm right through to 350gsm. The dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without coating or pre-treatment.

Xeikon label presses can handle an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The press handles a substrate width of 330mm, and provides for an imaging width of 322mm. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

For job preparation, the Xeikon presses are equipped with the truly open, scalable and modular X-800 Digital Front-End (DFE), combining extensive pre-press functionality including a high-speed RIP with impressive variable data printing processing. In addition, the X-800 DFE is designed to deliver the highest print quality level, a practical die marker function and precise step-and-repeat functionality. The system is also equipped to handle complex operations such as sequential numbering and barcodes.

To complete new production unit a miniDCoat converting line will be connected to the digital press. The miniDCoat, launched at the recent LabelExpo, is an ideal investment in the current economic climate. The unit will run at a speed of up to 32 meters per minute, and can perform varnishing, semi-rotary die-cutting, slitting, and rewinding. The unit is also equipped with a buffer section to allow adjustment to the miniDCoat without stopping output from the press.

Commenting on the Integrity Print order, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “We are delighted to be working with Integrity Print. Digital label production will certainly ensure a more efficient and cost effective print solution for a large amount of the work already produced by the company and, because of the markets that the company works in, I can imagine that the Xeikon at Integrity will be kept extremely busy.”

Further information on Integrity Print can be obtained by calling 01761 409 200 or by visiting the www.integrity-print.com web site.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

Watch the Xeikon 3300 digital label press in action – click here for a short video of the product.

ENDS

Latest Update:

The Integrity Print news regarding its Xeikon 3300 purchase is now featured on the printweek.com and the packagingnews.co.uk web sites. Click the links to see these independent versions of the story.

GenesisNews: Best of 2009 Part 1, January to June

Feel the Fabric: See April's Entry

Whilst 2009 might not be a year that many will want to celebrate from a business perspective, there has been some good news during the course of the year. As we near the end of 2009, it is surely a good time to focus on some of those stories that we enjoyed publishing on GenesisNews. This selection is from the first six months of the year:

January 2009: Hosted Rental Service for DigiQuote and JobControl Software

TimeHarvest Limited, the award-winning software development company specialising in digital print, announced a solution to three pressing needs amongst digital printing companies: firstly, to preserve cashflow; secondly, to provide increased data security; and finally, for sales staff to be able to roam whilst still having full access to office based systems. The solution? To make TimeHarvest products available via a Hosted Rental Service. Full story . . .

February 2009: Benson Group Moves into Pharma Labels Sector

Folding carton specialist Benson Group announced details of its first move into the labels sector with the purchase of a Gallus EM340S printing press with a Scantech VisionTrack rewind and inspection machine for its pharmaceutical-focused Medica Packaging business in Crewe, Cheshire. The seven-colour Gallus EM340S UV-Flexographic press, is capable of a wide range of label production formats, including reverse printing, printing on adhesive, edge slit, in-line die cutting, as well as printing onto a wide range of substrates. Full story . . .

March 2009: UK First for Xeikon at Hine Labels

Hine Labels Ltd, Rotherham, Yorkshire, announced details of a decision to upgrade its existing Xeikon label press to a new Xeikon 3000 machine. The installation was the first Xeikon 3000 digital label press in the UK. Xeikon 3000 has been designed as a counterpart to the Xeikon 3300 label press, and contains many of the same features as its “bigger brother”. Full story . . .

March 2009: “ISO 12647 Proficient Printer” Standard for Benson Box

Benson Group, headquartered in Bardon, Leicestershire, announced details of its newly acquired “ISO 12647 Proficient Printer” status, as awarded by colour specialists Mellow Colour, for its Benson Box carton printing operation. Benson Box, Bardon, specialises in the production of folding cartons for the food industry. Work on the colour standard was also underway at the three other Benson Group sites at Gateshead, Newcastle, and Crewe, the group’s 100% pharmaceutical plant. Full story . . .

April 2009: New Ryobi as X1 Growth Continues

X1, the Slough-based print and graphic design company, announced the installation of a new Ryobi 524GX press, as well as the purchase and consolidation of Jackson Print, a Hayes-based printing company, into the business. The incorporation of the order book and staff of Jackson Print took place in February 2009. Full story . . .

April 2009: Reflections Invited you to Feel the Fabric

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, announced the launch of a new fabric-surfaced substrate for printers and graphic designers who are seeking something different and exciting for a special promotional campaign. The substrate combines a card backing and a laminated fabric surface. Full story . . .

May 2009: MGS: Pre-Press Growth in a Recession

Marlowe Graphic Services Ltd (MGS), Leighton Buzzard, the UK’s leading independent pre-press service and maintenance company, recorded significant growth in its business during the early recessionary months fo 2009. Darren Eliot, Managing Director of MGS, said: “We have been delighted with the additional business that has been coming our way in recent months.” Full story . . .

June 2009: Ryobi DI Elected Winner by Kall Kwik Horsham

Kall Kwik Horsham declared its recent purchase of a Ryobi 3404X-DI press to be a real winner following a significant vote in its favour from political party UKIP. A local UK Independence Party (UKIP) representative recently approached the high street based franchise to produce some posters. After a swift and cost effective job was produced, further discussions took place with party leaders, and an agreement was reached for Kall Kwik Horsham to produce the political group’s publicity material for the whole of the UK during the recent local and European elections. An ongoing relationship is now being forged on the back of the performance of the Ryobi press. Full story . . .

ENDS

Apex Launches Five Colour Ryobi GE Press

Apex Digital Graphics, the official UK distributor for Ryobi presses, celebrated the official launch of the recently announced Ryobi 525GE B3 landscape format offset press at its November open house event. The event, staged on November 4^th and 5^th at Apex’s Hemel Hempstead HQ,  was staged to celebrate the company’s 20^th Anniversary, and Ryobi’s 35 years of supplying printing equipment to the UK market.

The GE Series was announced as the successor to the HE Series of entry level presses by Ryobi at Drupa 2008. To date the range has included two and four-colour press variants. The announcement of the five-colour version of the machine offers printers a significant space and price saving over the equivalent Ryobi GX Series machine.

With regard to the configuration of the new press, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director at Apex Digital Graphics, said: “The five-colour configuration of the GX Series is probably our most popular. The GE variant offers considerable automation, but will take some 38% less space than a five-colour GX machine, making it ideal for companies where shop floor space is at a premium.”

The new 525GE will come complete with low pile delivery – another space saving feature. The press can also be fitted with a swing-away numbering unit (NP option) – the first time that this option has been made available for a five-colour Ryobi press. The NP option can also be retrofitted. As standard the machine will be shipped with Ryobi’s PCS-JX printing control system, incorporating an LCD touch-screen display and on-board PC for efficient networking.

“This new GE machine gives us more options,” added Neil Handforth. “We have had situations in the past where prospects were keen to invest in a five-colour B3format machine, but available space meant that the GX was not suitable for them. The GE, with its very compact design, will help us to resolve such issues.”

Combining function and style in an attractive new design the Ryobi 520GE Series includes many features for reducing make-ready times. These include semi-automatic plate changing as standard, as well as automated cleaning for ink rollers and blankets, and Ink Volume Setter software for the efficient transfer of ink profile information from the pre-press department. The PCS-JX incorporates Ryobi Program Inking to automatically supply ink to the ink rollers to match the image from the very start of printing.

Apex Digital Graphics Limited

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

STOP PRESS:

December 4th edition of PrintWeek magazine includes a Product of the Week review of the Ryobi 525GE. Click here for this detailed and independent review.

ENDS

Free MicroMotion Samples at mediaPro 09

Z-Card Samples at mediaPro09

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has enjoyed the free circulation of samples of its MicroMotion finish to all mediaPro 09 exhibition visitors.

The exhibition, which took place on November 4 and 5, was attended by Reflections customer Z-CARD^®, and samples of a promotional Z-CARD^® were provided within the exhibition catalogue bag handed out to all visitors to the event. The exceptionally creative promotional Z-CARD^® samples enjoy MicroMotion highlights on both the front and back covers to give them an exclusive feel and look.

The following day, November 6, another MicroMotion promotion was incorporated by Reflections on a special-edition front cover of PrintWeek magazine.

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “MicroMotion gives a unique and exciting appearance to print, and has particular benefits for promotional items. We were delighted to find out that Z-CARD^® used their promotional products at this show, as it really is a great advert for MicroMotion. This was duly supported by the use of the same finishing technique on our PrintWeek cover which was published on the very next day!”

MicroMotion, a finish exclusively available from Reflections, is able to add an air of uniqueness, and indeed security, to a print project. The speciality varnish is available in a number of stock patterns, but bespoke variants can also be created.

If you didn’t attend mediaPro 09 but would still like to get your free MicroMotion sample, please e-mail lukehastings@reflections.co.uk requesting one to be despatched immediately!

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the recently revised www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

For further information on Z-CARD^® visit www.zcard.com or call Lander Davidson (Head of Sales) on 0207 801 3789

ENDS

Commendations All Round for Benson Group

Benson Group, the UK’s leading privately owned carton printer, has been recognised again at both of this year’s major industry awards ceremonies. The company was commended at both the PrintWeek and the more recent UK Packaging Awards, hosted by Packaging News, to illustrate again the consistency of performance at the company.

At the UK Packaging Awards, Benson Group, last year’s winner of the Packaging Company of the Year award, was highly commended in recognition of the printed carton supplier’s sustained good performance. “Both in customer satisfaction and financially, Benson’s success is thoroughly deserved,” said one judge.

October’s PrintWeek 2009 Awards focused on Benson Group’s consistency, as this was the third time in four years that the company had been commended in the Company of the Year category. The awards brochure cited unparalleled success at the company since 2002, and recognised the business as the largest independent carton manufacturer in the UK.

“Whilst it is always nice to win awards, we do also appreciate being commended for our overall success and professionalism,” said Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group. “The consistency that we have shown over the years at the major awards events is, we believe, second to none. To be commended three years in four in the award that recognises the best print company in the country is a tremendous accolade for a packaging company. Even just to make the final of this award, as we have done for six consecutive years, brackets you with the print industry’s elite: the top few companies of 10,000 or so potential winners.

“Having won the Packaging Company of the Year in 2008 we have again shown great consistency in being highly commended this year. These awards are for the whole of the team that we have assembled here at Benson Group, and everybody involved with the company should feel a sense of pride in these achievements.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

ENDS

100 Million for Benson’s Two Year Old Heidelberg

Counter showing the 100 million mark just past!

Benson Group, the UK’s leading privately owned carton printer, has announced details of a landmark performance from its first Heidelberg XL 105, with the press passing the 100 million sheet count after just 25 months of production.

To put this figure into perspective, a recently replaced CD102 from Benson’s Bardon plant had produced a very efficient 245 million sheets in 15 years. That equates to just over 16 million sheets per year – an amount produced by the XL 105 in just four months.

“We are delighted with the stunning productivity and reliability of the XL 105, and are looking forward to similar excellence from our recently installed second machine,” said Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Broup.

“These numbers just emphasise the advances made in offset press technology in recent years, particularly with regard to makeready. In the competitive world of packaging, we need such advances in order to remain at the forefront of our sector, and to ensure that we can handle the ever growing demands in terms of both quality and turnaround times required by our customers.”

This latest news follows the recent installation of the second Heidelberg XL 105 at Benson Group’s flagship Bardon, Leicestershire, site.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Software Suppliers Lend Helping Hand at Erskine

Two specialist software companies are helping ensure Erskine Print, run by the veterans’ charity Erskine, put its stamp on the commercial printing market.

Erskine, which runs five care homes across Scotland, is a leading employer of ex-Service men and women with supported employment, not only across the care sector, but its four commercial businesses which includes Erskine Print.

TimeHarvest Ltd, based in Oxford, has donated DigiQuote-Lite quoting software which will assist Erskine Print in quoting and production and help to deliver cost-effective pricing for its customer and client base.

Geoff Stephens, Managing Director of TimeHarvest Ltd, recently visited the Erskine Print factory to provide a day of software training to Alan Crawley, Erskine Print manager and his staff.

Following on from his visit, FileMaker International, the leader in easy-to-use database software and a supplier to TimeHarvest Ltd, also donated two copies of FileMaker Pro database software and accompanying licences after hearing about the work of Erskine from Geoff.

Alan Crawley, Erskine Print manager, said: “We are obviously delighted to receive such generous donations of estimating software from TimeHarvest and FileMaker, particularly in the current economic climate. It’s very gratifying that the work we do in offering meaningful employment and training to disabled and able bodied ex-Service people has been recognized in such a manner. The easy-to-use software will help us to sharpen our commercial edge in an industry where producing accurate quotations in very short time lines is vital.”

Geoff Stephens, added: “Getting professional, accurate quotes out on time is as vital to Erskine Print as it is to any commercial company. It’s our pleasure to support our veterans in this way.”

Tony Speakman, FileMaker’s Regional Manager in Northern Europe commented:“When we heard about the great work that Erskine Print are doing we were more than happy to help where we could and provide software. The team does a great job and we were hugely impressed with their efforts in helping ex-service people into the workplace. It’s an extremely worthy cause and we hope that our donation can help to make them even more productive and successful.”

For further details about Erskine Print visit www.erskine.org.uk.

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StudioRIP Announces New Activity in North America

Norman Reedman, President, Newtec Systems Inc

StudioRIP, the UK-based independent software RIP provider, has announced details regarding the its newly formed relationship with Newtec Systems Inc, based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The company is to act as a distributor for the StudioRIP software in both Canada and USA, with a view to the creation of StudioRIP North America, which will trade as a division of Newtec Systems.

First product sales have already been recorded, with one StudioRIP full workflow solution being sold to a Toronto-based print shop, and another package being sold to the Canadian subsidiary of PaperlinX Ltd. The later customer is expected to become a full StudioRIP OEM partner in the near future, according to Newtec Systems President, Norman Reedman.

Newtec Systems Inc has worked closely with Paperlinx International over the last six months and has successfully concluded a private label agreement where Paperlinx will incorporate both RealVue 3D and StudioRip Workflow Edition into their line or pre-media products worldwide.

This North American success comes as a direct result of StudioRIP’s recent appearance at the PRINT 09 show in Chicago. Andy Hemmings, Sales Director for StudioRIP, said: “The show represented the ideal opportunity for StudioRIP to create relationships with potential partner companies, and our meeting with the team from Newtec Systems was certainly the most successful. We have met with Norman and his team again since the show, and we have been able to agree on a plan for distribution in both Canada and the United States. Newtec Systems have an experienced pre-press team, and we are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Technical training for the personnel who will man the fledging StudioRIP North America operation is already underway, and the Newtec Systems team are currently identifying suitable partners within the North American market. “We are seeking to appoint a number of experienced re-sellers in order to cover this large territory,” said Norman Reedman. “It is important for us to find the right partners. We certainly are not going to just appoint everybody who shows a mere interest. We will need partners who understand the business, are going to be proactive in the market, and can recognise the huge potential in the StudioRIP product.

“PaperlinX will be an important OEM for the product, and we are also in discussion with a number of other major resellers who may want to take a similar OEM status,” he added. “We certainly expect to have achieved some significant results in North America by the time the Graphics of the Americas Expo show [Miami, Florida] comes around in February.”

About StudioRIP

StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.7, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, inkjet and laser printers.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the www.studiorip.co.uk web site.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

StudioRIP 3.0 also includes a flexographic option, which is capable of providing 37.5 degree angles, flexo dot, dot gain, and dispro compensations. The software also provides a seamless option for flexographic plate production.

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TimeHarvest: Invoice in Just One Click!

TimeHarvest, the award-winning MIS system for digital print companies, has responded to the current postal difficulties by adding a new e-invoicing facility to its popular JobControl product.

With just one click users are able to send an invoice as an e-mail with a branded PDF attached. At the same time a copy of the invoice is archived in a “Sent Invoices” mailbox. Invoices can also carry a user-defined promotional message via another feature recently added to the JobControl system.

New users will benefit from this feature immediately, whilst existing hosted customers can have the feature added free of charge on request. The new facility is also available to non-hosted clients for a small charge.

Geoff Stephens, Managing Director of TimeHarvest, said: “In these challenging times I firmly believe that small businesses need to help look after each other. The idea for adding this simple feature to our software was born purely out of recent events with the postal workers. Small businesses need to get their invoices to customers on time, often in order to meet payment system deadlines. Just a couple of days delay caused by a postal strike can often mean having to wait a whole month longer for payment. By generating an instant PDF and e-mailing it through to the client our customers will be able to avoid any such delay.”

The TimeHarvest JobControl software – the MIS package developed for the busy digital printer – provides the tools to produce all necessary job documentation from job ticket through to invoice. The product features the “Day Board” where users can see exactly where each job is in the print production process, and can also see what work has yet to be completed.

TimeHarvest was founded in 2003 by digital print veteran Geoff Stephens for the express purpose of developing affordable, easy-to-use software aimed squarely at users of modern digital presses. The company operates from the UK but has clients throughout Europe, North America and South Africa.

For further information visit the www.timeharvest.com web site or contact the company direct at TimeHarvest Ltd, Mill Corner, Littleworth Village, Oxford, OX33 1TR, telephone 01865 989111.

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Europe’s First Komori Lithrone SX40 for Benson Group

S. Mochida, Senior MD & COO, Komori Corporation, with M. Kerridge, MD, Benson Group

Europe’s first Komori Lithrone SX40 sheet fed press has been installed at Benson Group’s Integrated Packaging site in Gateshead. The 18,000 sheets per hour, 40 inch press is equipped with six print units and a coating unit capable of adding UV or water-based finishes. The new press will be used to produce food packaging product for Benson Group, the UK’s Packaging Company of the Year, and is expected to produce some 40 million sheets in its first year of production.

In addition to the £1.9 million LSX40 installation, Benson Group’s six existing North-East based Komori presses are all being upgraded with Komori’s K-Station, the Komori Management System (KMS), and Print Density Control (PDC) spectrophotometer. The upgrades are expected to increase the throughput of these existing presses – all six-colour with coater (one with double coater) – by as much as 5 million sheets per year, per press. These existing presses are split equally between Benson Group’s Gateshead and Newcastle factories.

Commenting on the new addition, and the need for the enhancements to existing machinery, Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group, said: “Expanding the printing capacity of our North East facilities was an essential ingredient for our continued growth plan. We examined all of the leading press suppliers’ products at Drupa last year, and were certainly impressed by the developments that had been made, especially in terms of makeready. Whilst we have added new Heidelberg equipment to our Bardon site, we felt that it made sense to stay with Komori for the North East. The new LSX 40 is an extremely impressive product. This new print capability coupled with the upgrades to our existing machinery provides a significant expansion of printing capacity within the group should ensure that we are able to cope with the additional carton business that we expect to win over the coming year.”

“To have secured the first European installation of the flagship Lithrone LSX 40 within the Benson Group is very pleasing,” said Steve Turner, General Sales Manager, Sheetfed presses, Komori UK. “This powerful press is packed with features such as the new Fully Automatic Plate Mounting System, PDCS II closed loop colour management system and the unique Komori KHS-AI Advanced Intelligence, self-learning pre-inking system which ensures the job is ready for production after very few makeready sheets.

“These features combine to create a press which offers the fastest ever Komori makeready, fastest running speed, and importantly, as there is so little waste substrate the environmental impact is much reduced, especially as it can also run alcohol free.

“The Benson Group is already a major user of Komori Lithrone LS40 technology.  As the business continues to grow and prosper, this latest generation LSX machine will enable this dynamic company to greatly increase its production capacity in the North East.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

For further information on Komori UK call 0113 224 6342.

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First Ryobi 524GE Installed at PrintWorks

Paul Johnson with the Ryobi 524GE

PrintWorks (North) Ltd, Wetherby, has announced the installation of its first four-colour litho press and the UK’s first Ryobi 524GE. Alongside the press is a DPX polyester-based computer-to-plate system. The package was purchased from Apex Digital Graphics, the UK’s official Ryobi distributor.

The new purchase replaces two aging single colour presses – an SRA2-format Oliver and a B3-format Heidelberg GTO, one 17 and one 12 years old. “They had been great machines for us,” said PrintWorks (North) Managing Director Paul Johnson. “Along with two Ryobi 3200 machines, they had been the backbone of our business from day one. Of course, commercial print has changed quite a lot in that time, and now the majority of customers are asking for four colour print. We had been farming such requests out, but this had reached close to £90,000 worth of work in the last year, and so 12 months ago we took the decision to move into four-colour production ourselves.

“In taking that decision, we also decided that we did not have to lock ourselves into offset-litho production, so we looked at everything. We examined low and high level digital production, from the likes of Xerox and HP, and we looked closely at the DI option. Digital still wasn’t flexible enough to handle the full range of the work that we produce, which left us with traditional litho and DI.

“Putting both to the test, the DI handled three days worth of our typical work in just one working day – which was impressive. However, the Ryobi and separate CtP solution handled the same three days work in just four hours! Decision made!”

Paul Johnson concedes that maybe this is a move that the company could have made three or four years ago. “I have to say that we have been both surprised and delighted with the performance of the products in just the first few weeks of production. One typical job for us – a pharmaceutical case study – required us to produce 140 plates. The DPX ran through plate production in no time at all – in fact we now leave it producing plates for this kind of work overnight. On press, the changeover time between plates is extremely quick, and, for four-colour work, the fit is almost spot on as soon as you put the plates on.

“One recent job – something that we would have sent out prior to the arrival of the Ryobi 524GE – just showed its capabilities: it was four-back-four, including tints, solids and 300 line screen high quality images. The press handled everything superbly.”

The company is now receiving more and more four-colour printing enquiries from existing customers. In its first month of operation the press has produced 40% new business.

Due to its continued use of Ryobi presses, the company had known Apex Digital Graphics for many years. “We already had a good working relationship with Apex,” said Paul Johnson. “But they have been excellent throughout the purchase and installation cycle with this press and CtP package. I really can’t fault them.”

Ryobi’s recently introduced 520GE series is equipped with a high level of automation and a wealth of quality, productivity and environmental features. The Ryobi 520GE series is at the cutting edge of B3 offset for 2, 4 and 5-colour print production, and is also highly compact, offering 40% space savings over equivalent models from other suppliers. The printing units consist of a double-diameter impression cylinder and a double-diameter transfer drum.

Big-press features include semi-automatic plate changing, allowing plates to be changed quickly and accurately. The operator merely sets the plate on the positioning pins and presses the button. Ryobi’s program inking system automatically supplies ink to ink rollers to match the image from the start of printing. After a pre-set number of prints have been produced the ink on the rollers is automatically restored to an even state, ready for the next job.

Thirteen-year-old PrintWorks (North), which employs a team of ten at its Wetherby premises, and anticipates a turnover this year of close to £1 million, provides a full design and print production service, including in-house graphic and web design, pre-press studio, and print finishing. The company produces a wide range of commercial print for customers both in the local area and across the UK.

For further information on PrintWorks (North) Ltd call 01937 585 575.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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New, Innovative Reflections Web Site

One of the Optix 3D samples from the new Reflections.co.uk site

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced details regarding the latest version of its web site, which can be found at www.reflections.co.uk

The new build incorporates an extensive section called “Finishes” in which fold patterns and designs are illustrated in great detail, including the use of folding animations to show how particular print finishing operations work in practice.

On-line galleries are also included to show a number of recently released products in action, such as the 3D print product Optix, MircoMotion, and Designer UV.

Commenting on the latest update to the site, Luke Hastings, joint managing director of Reflections, said: “Web sites are often too static, and therefore don’t really inform the reader as much as they could. We have been able to incorporate a range of exciting techniques to help illustrate many of our leading edge finishes, and help explain what they can do for a designer, a printer, or an end-user. Even the simple folding routines help to bring finishing to life, and will help to inform. I am pleased that we have managed to squeeze so much information onto the site, and we will be delighted to receive feedback from visitors. The development, however, doesn’t stop here. A web site is always “work in progress”, and the Reflections site will continue to evolve, using the latest techniques to help illustrate our business.”

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Starpack 2009 Award for Benson Group

Benson Group, based in Bardon, Leicestershire, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, has been recognised with a 2009 Starpack Award within the Technical Developments section for its work on a carton for supermarket chain Morrisons.

The winning packaging product was created for a Morrisons Berry Pannacotta from the supermarket’s “The Best” range. The carton exhibits a matt and hi-gloss effect, which is produced from a single pass on the press.

The technical development incorporates a high-surfactant loaded primer which is printed onto the board, leaving out (reversing out) those areas to that are to appear gloss. A special hi-gloss coater varnish is then applied all over the sheet. This reacts with the primer to give a matt effect, but stays gloss where there is no primer.

The key benefit of this technique is that the hi-gloss varnish would normally be applied via a flexo plate, limiting the detail that can be incorporated. Utilising this new technique the detail is affected via the litho plate, ie, the reversed out areas of that plate. That means that the finest of detail can be utilised within the pack design.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Open House to Celebrate Apex 20th Anniversary

Apex Celebrates 20 Years

Apex Digital Graphics, the UK’s official Ryobi distributor, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary as a business and the 35^th anniversary of Ryobi presses arriving in the UK with an open house event at its Hemel Hempstead headquarters on November 4^th and 5^th.

The event will be used as a launch for the recently announced Ryobi 525GE B3-format offset press. This compact yet highly automated five-colour press not only offers a 40% saving on space taken when compared to other leading five unit B3 configurations, but also offers the lowest power consumption in its class. A numbering and perforating unit can also be added if required.

“The open house offers us a tremendous opportunity for us to introduce printers to this latest five-colour press,” said Bernard Parker, joint managing director of Apex Digital Graphics. “We believe that the time is just right. As it is from the GE Series of Ryobi presses, the machine is competitively priced; the low power consumption provides not only cost savings, but also illustrates the press’s green credentials; and the compact nature of the press means that businesses do not necessarily need to move the larger premises just to move into five-colour printing. We already have installations of the two and four colour GE models, so the 525GE compliments the range perfectly”.

The 35^th anniversary of Ryobi’s arrival in the UK will be celebrated by Apex with the inclusion of the 525GX B3-format press – the alternative five-colour machine from Ryobi’s flagship B3 range; the Ryobi 784 compact B2-format press; and the Ryobi 755 plus coater version of the award winning B2-plus format range.

“We are delighted to be able to celebrate our 20^th anniversary in conjunction with Ryobi’s 35^th year in the UK,” said Bob Usher, company founder and joint managing director. “Whilst it has certainly been a tough trading year for us and many of our customers, we felt that we had to mark these anniversaries in some way. Staging an open house represents a good business reason to gather some of our friends and associates from the past twenty years in order to thank them for their assistance, and perhaps toast “some light at the end of the tunnel” as far as the recession is concerned!”

Pre-press equipment on show from Apex Digital Graphics will include the DPX2 polyester-based platemaker from ECRM and the Screen PlateRite 4300 fully automatic B2+ metal thermal platesetter, running Fujifilm processless plates.

Friends and business partners of Apex will also be exhibiting a range of solutions, including finishing equipment from Morgana; MIS from Tharstern; Konica Minoltaand Sharp digital copier equipment from Danwood; Technotrans water management systems; PCO printing chemicals; Creo workflow; Sun Chemical printing inks; Baldwin drying systems; IDS mail sort software; and DirectSmile image personalisation.

New Appointment at Finishing Specialist Reflections

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced the appointment of Colin Kirven to the position of Customer Services Manager at the company’s Basildon, Essex site.

Colin had been working most recently at rival finishing specialist Best Cover. This new appointment follows the closure of the Best Cover London site. Prior to this, Colin had been working in Customer Services for Hendy Banks since 2001, and has been involved in the industry for over 30 years.

Commenting on the appointment, Luke Hastings, joint managing director of Reflections, said: “Colin is a welcome addition to the team. He has an excellent knowledge of the fast paced print environment, he understands print, and he understands customer care. People of his experience and knowledge don’t come along that often.”

Colin spent his early industry years in in-plant print operations in the City, including both financial and transport based operations. With regard to this new appointment, he said: “I am delighted to be working with the team at Reflections. This company has a tremendous range of finishing services to offer its customers, and is keen to continually innovate new solutions. It feels good to be involved with a company that is moving forwards.”

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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New Premises for Marlowe Graphic Services

New Premises for Marlowe

Marlowe Graphic Services Ltd (MGS) has unveiled details of a move to larger, modern new offices in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. The company had previously been located in Hockcliffe, near Leighton Buzzard.

The new offices provide the company with more space, which will incorporate showroom facilities, as well as storage for spare parts, and office space. The Kings Langley location offers easy access to both the M25 and M1.

The full address of the new facility is: 20 Abbots Business Park, Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire WD4 8FR. “Sat-nav” worshippers should appreciate that this is a new address, and therefore a new post code, which may well provide inaccurate travel instructions at this point in time!

Darren Eliot, Managing Director of Marlowe Graphic Services, said: “This move helps to emphasise the expansion that we have been undergoing as a business this year. Whilst to many that might seem an unusual statement, given the tough trading conditions being experienced in 2009, Marlowe Graphic Services – with a core business of service and maintenance of pre-press equipment – has been thriving.

“A lot of pre-press departments are not in a position to invest in new equipment right now, and that is good news for Marlowe Graphic Services. We are helping to extend the life of existing equipment with both regular maintenance and low-cost system enhancements.”

The new build offices, located on the recently created Abbotts Business Park, will allow the company to create a pre-press showroom, showcasing many of the products it offers, including new platesetters, RIP’s, workflow solutions, and other equipment.

Sales Director Andy Hemmings adds: “We didn’t have sufficient space at our previous building to offer proper demonstrations on-site, so this move will be a great help with regard to equipment sales.

“Location is also critical to both the service and sales operations, and Kings Langley offers a great position with regard to the motorway network.”

About the Marlowe Graphic Services

Marlowe Graphic Services are the UK’s premier independent pre-press specialist, providing service, parts and technical support for a wide range of graphic arts equipment. The company’s service offering is unique in that not only does it supply, integrated and service third-party equipment but it also has its own team of in-house software and hardware specialists, which means that if a solution doesn’t exist MGS will simply make it!

Customers range from multi-national magazine and newspaper publishers, to fine-art printers, book printers and general commercial print suppliers. In short, print businesses of all shapes and sizes, being looked after by MGS’s team of factory-trained engineers, covering the whole of the UK.

The MGS web site has been designed to complement the range of individual services that the company currently offers, all uniquely supported by MGS’s own staff. Customers like the MGS approach, as they are not making important purchasing decisions via a faceless computer, or even worse, an overseas call centre. They know that if they are stuck MGS has the means to “un-stick” them.

For further information on Marlowe Graphic Services visit the www.marlowe.co.uk web site, or call 0870 777 0920.

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StudioRIP Hails PRINT 09 Show Significant Success

Whilst the true scale of orders will certainly not be known for many months to come, one of the few British companies exhibiting in its own right at PRINT 09 in Chicago, StudioRIP UK Ltd, has heralded the event a significant success for the business.

Commenting on the show, Andy Hemmings, Sales Director for StudioRIP, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the people that we met during PRINT 09, and see the investment in our own stand was certainly money very well spent. It’s impossible to gauge at this stage exactly how many orders will be forthcoming, but we have made some excellent contacts, and have set up some potentially valuable meetings over coming weeks, where we hope to finalise a number of significant contracts.

“Our objectives were to meet up with potential dealers, distributors, and OEM partners, and from that perspective the show was a great success for us. It has to be said that there were limited numbers of end-users in attendance, and certainly some exhibitors were very disappointed with the show.”

Further details on distributor and OEM partnership arrangements are still under discussion at this point in time, but the company says that further news is anticipated in the near future. The company hopes to finalise a master distribution agreement for North America in the coming weeks.

“We were extremely busy with product demonstrations of StudioRIP,” adds Andy Hemmings. “On one day in particular we were still demonstrating when the lights were turned off at the end of business!”

About StudioRIP

StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.6, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, inkjet and laser printers.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the www.studiorip.co.uk web site.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

StudioRIP 3.0 also includes a flexographic option, which is capable of providing 37.5 degree angles, flexo dot, dot gain, and dispro compensations. The software also provides a seamless option for flexographic plate production.

Why Does the World Need Another RIP?

Originally designed as a low cost solution to meet the needs of the second-hand imagesetter market, StudioRIP has grown to become a highly suitable alternative to mainstream RIP products for most output requirements, including computer-to-plate, all formats of imagesetter, inkjet and laser printers. Still a cost effective product, StudioRIP also offers highly productive throughput comparable with all of the competition.

One significant advantage offered by StudioRIP over the majority of competing software RIP products is the ability to include many workflow operations within the RIP architecture. Functions such as imposition and trapping can be included within StudioRIP, rather than users having to purchase separate software packages, usually at significant extra cost. StudioRIP is also “flexo friendly” with flexographic screening, distortion, and imposition features optionally available.

StudioRIP’s “Smart Screening” offers customers the very latest in hybrid screening techniques – again, without the need to buy highly priced “extra’s”. Features of the AM screening package include user selectable screen angles, and smooth gradients via the combination of 4,096 shades of grey and low pass filtering.

ENDS

LED-UV Curing System Wins Award for Ryobi

The Award is Presented

Ryobi’s innovative LED-UV curing system, which made its debut in B3-format at Drupa last year and enjoyed its first B2 appearance at the recent PRINT 09 event in Chicago, has been awarded with the Nippon (Japan) Brand Prize at the 39^th Machine Design Award competition.

Ryobi is the first printing press manufacturer to put LED-UV curing to practical use, and is delighted to accept this award for its efforts.

The LED-UV curing unit replaces conventional UV lamps with long-life UV light-emitting diodes (LED’s), cutting power consumption by at least 70%. Drying times are shortened, speeding up job completion, whilst the light source should last as much as 15 times longer than conventional lamps. The system generates minimal heat and no ozone, providing a real environmental plus, and eliminating the need for exhaust equipment to handle both heat and ozone.

The LED-UV unit is available for the two-up Ryobi 520 Series press, the B-2+ format 750 Series, and the eight-up Ryobi 920 Series press.

This breakthrough technology is viewed by many as the most significant advancement in UV technology for 30 years. Light emitting diodes (LED’s) are extremely efficient. Instead of using electricity to heat up a metal filament, LED’s produce light by channelling an electric current through a semiconductor material. The result: close to 100% of the electricity is converted into light with virtually no waste heat generation.

The Machine Design Award competition is sponsored by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun newspaper and is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The Awards were established in 1970 to promote and develop industrial product design.

Apex Digital Graphics

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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Limpet Labels Expand Digital Offering with Xeikon 3000

Limpet Labels, Wrexham, has announced an expansion into digital label production with the purchase of a new Xeikon 3000 digital label press. Established in 1992, the North Wales-based company specialises in the production of self-adhesive labels for the chemical, oil, hygiene industries and other markets where high label quality and durability are required.

Commenting on the company’s latest investment in digital equipment, Lee Goode, Managing Director of Limpet Labels, said: “Digital label printing is playing an ever more important role in the market, and we need ensure that we are keeping up with the very latest technology in this area. We recognise that customer needs are changing with shorter run lengths, just-in-time production, and a larger number of product variants. We believe that by moving further into digital production we will be able to help our customers to reduce their stock levels of label products, and provide labels that incorporate variable data, such as unique bar codes or sequential numbering. Undoubtedly, digital gives a label print business significantly more flexibility, and that is something that we believe our customers will benefit from.

“I believe that digital printing technology is not going to replace conventional printing methods in the foreseeable future, however, it is an important piece of a jigsaw puzzle in label production today. With our new investment we will be able to offer a complete package to our customers as well as gain a significant competitive advantage over our competitors.”

Limpet Labels currently run two Mark Andy LP3000 flexographic presses, the second of which was installed in September 2008, and automatic-feed screen printing. The company currently produces in excess of 5 million labels per month.

The Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The press handles a substrate width of 330mm, and provides for an imaging width of 322mm. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

For job preparation, the Xeikon press is equipped with the truly open, scalable and modular X-800 Digital Front-End (DFE), combining extensive pre-press functionality including a high-speed RIP with impressive variable data printing processing. In addition, the X-800 DFE is designed to deliver the highest print quality level, a practical die marker function and precise step-and-repeat functionality. The system is also equipped to handle complex operations such as sequential numbering and barcodes.

Commenting on the Limpet Labels order, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “The team at Limpet Labels have taken a long hard look at the digital market and decided that the time is right for them to invest in a product that will further advance their competitive advantage in the market place. The outstanding quality, colour consistency and accuracy of the Xeikon 3000 will fit well into this established label production business.”

Further information on Limpet Labels can be obtained by calling 01978 66 44 11 or by visiting the www.limpetlabels.co.uk web site.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

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LED-UV Makes B2 Debut for Ryobi at PRINT 09

Ryobi's LED-UV Curing in B2-Format

Ryobi’s innovative LED-UV curing system, which made its debut in B3-format at Drupa last year, was shown at PRINT 09 in a B2-format for the first time.

The Japanese press manufacturer’s stand featured the new Ryobi 1050, a fully automated B1-format offset press making its North American debut at PRINT 09, and a B2+ format Ryobi 750 series in a six unit configuration.

The Ryobi 1050-6, a fully automated eight-up, six-colour press, was supported by the first appearance of the B2+ format Ryobi 756 with LED-UV curing unit. Both presses were demonstrated in a live print production environment.

The 750 series is available in up to 10 colours; the 1050 series is currently available in up to eight-colour models and features an optional closed-circuit camera to continuously monitor print quality. Both the 1050 and 750 series presses run up to 16,000 sheets per hour.

These two presses can run a wide range of substrates from super-lightweight papers to board and film, making them ideal for printers involved in the packaging world, or those seeking to add that capability. Ryobi’s new LED-UV curing system, which offers significant savings on power consumption and speeds drying time, was making its first appearance at a major show in B2 format, following a preview of the technology at Drupa last year.

Ryobi 750 series
Ryobi has seen strong worldwide demand for its popular Ryobi 750 series of six-up presses. The Ryobi 756 prints substrates from lightweight stocks and film to board stock.

The LED-UV curing unit on the Ryobi 756 is the first curing unit that replaces conventional UV lamps with long-life UV light-emitting diodes (LED), cutting power consumption by at least 70%. Dry times are shortened, speeding job completion. The LED-UV unit is also available for the two-up Ryobi 520 series press and the eight-up Ryobi 920 series press.

The system eliminates ozone emissions, has a lamp life 12 times longer than conventional lamps, and uses ink with no volatile organic compound solvents (VOC’s).

This breakthrough technology is viewed by many as the most significant advancement in UV technology for 30 years. Light emitting diodes (LED’s) are extremely efficient. Instead of using electricity to heat up a metal filament, LED’s produce light by channeling an electric current through a semiconductor material. The result: close to 100% of the electricity is converted into light with virtually no waste heat generation.

Ryobi 1050 Series
The Ryobi 1050 Series features a double diameter impression cylinder and a double diameter transfer drum. There is also an optional movable shell-type skeleton transfer drum that accommodates various print stocks and thicknesses. The press is ideal for packaging and other high-value speciality printing.

The six-colour 1050-6 model at PRINT 09 featured an inline aqueous coater and infrared/hot air knife dryers, which speed delivery times. High-value-added printing is made possible by optional UV curing units, enabling chemical embossed and lenticular printing, and production on film, metallized paper and other non-absorptive materials. The 1050 series press is designed for highly accurate sheet feeding.

Other standard or optional technologies on the Ryobi 1050 series press include the centralized settings covering make-ready, paper changing, cleaning, registration, dampening volume control and more. The inline Ryobi Printing Quality Control System monitors and controls ink density with a closed-circuit camera, allowing efficient colour adjustment and reducing waste. Other options include fully automatic plate changing and automatic cleaning.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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Printforms Group Adds Second Ryobi 524HE

Printforms Group, the Wakefield-based print business that combines both Printforms Wakefield Ltd and broCARD, the patented pocket communication tool, has announced the purchase and installation of a second Ryobi 524HE – the first was installed back in May 2007.

Commenting on the purchase, Shaun Stanley, Director of Printforms Group, said: “Whilst 2009 has been a challenging year, we are convinced that our business needs to be in the best possible shape for when the upturn begins. We have put in a significant amount of work to bring in new customers, and it is vital that we have sufficient four-colour printing capacity to satisfy their needs, and the needs of our existing customers, both now and in the foreseeable future. Our investments have always been thoroughly considered and sensible. We believe that now is a good time to invest.”

With a keen eye on the local West Yorkshire economy, Mr Stanley adds: “The new press has allowed us to recruit extra personnel in the studio, production, and sales department.” The business currently employs 13 personnel and has a turnover of £1.2 million.

The B3-format, four-colour press purchase joins an existing Ryobi 524HE machine, and a Ryobi 522 and 520. The landscape format 524HE will provide significant additional capacity for the print room, with a throughput speed of up to 11,000 sheets per hour, and semi-automatic plate changing for fast make-ready. Polyester plates for the B3 products are produced by another Apex product, the DPX System.

“This new machine represents all additional capacity for us – we have not taken any presses out of our business,” adds Shaun Stanley. The new press incorporates some additional features when compared to the 2007 machine such as Ryobi-matic D dampening and oscillating bridge rollers; and the press is also equipped with auto ink and blanket wash.

The fourteen-year-old Printforms Group operates with two distinctive customer bases. Firstly, the general commercial print activity of Printforms, dealing both with end-users and with the trade; and, secondly, the broCARD business, which is primarily via agencies. The Printforms business handles a wide variety of commercial print from general stationery to high-end corporate brochures and specialist printed products. The company provides an extensive range of services for its customers, including graphic design, storage of and distribution of printed work, as well as marketing and campaign advice.

One development that has been a great help in 2009 in particular is the company’s on-line ordering system, “PF Live”. Originally developed for a major client, allowing them to select from stock items, the system is now available to all Printforms customers. “PF Live is ideal for clients who use us to produce multiple products, or for clients who themselves have multiple sites or offices. The facility can be personalised for customers, and we are also able to add special features to cater for specific requirements,” said Mr Stanley.

The company’s specialist product, broCARD, also continues to go from strength to strength. The product offers a unique and revolutionary design in the form of a pocket sized product that effectively incorporates both a brochure and a business card. broCARD is the only remaining company to possess a full UK patent to produce this type of product.

Apex Digital Graphics

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

For further information on Printforms call 01924 363 686, broCARD on 01924 298 999, or visit the www.printformsgroup.co.uk web site.

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Z-CARD® to Go Europe Wide with MicroMotion

Z-Card with MicroMotion Finish

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has teamed up with Z-CARD^®, the global specialist in PocketMedia^®, to incorporate their unique Micromotion finish onto a marketing campaign.

The exceptionally creative promotional Z-CARD^® samples enjoy MicroMotion highlights on the cover to give them an exclusive feel and look.

Nick Lowe, Commercial Director at Z-CARD^® said: “We first saw the effect in use on the cover of an edition of Printing World magazine towards the end of 2008. MicroMotion really does make a piece of print stand out – it tempts people to pick it up and take a closer look. Our French business trialled the finish with a promotional campaign recently and it proved to be very successful. We have now decided to roll out the programme across all of our European operations, which will entail a production run of some 100,000 individual Z-CARD’s^®. These promotional products will be tipped-in to various trade, marketing and advertising publications, as well as being used for dedicated direct mail campaigns.”

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Z-CARD^® was the first business in the UK to recognise the potential of our MicroMotion finish, and we are delighted that they are now following this initial interest with further investment in a European wide marketing campaign. MicroMotion gives a unique and exciting appearance to print, and has particular benefits for promotional items.”

The Z-CARD^® range of patented products are designed to be stylish and impactful. Their compact size means customers keep them and they are frequently referred to. These features, in combination with a strong creative, ensure that a clients brand messages are likely to be retained and therefore remembered, for longer.

MicroMotion, a finish exclusively available from Reflections, is able to add an air of uniqueness, and indeed security, to a print project. The speciality varnish is available in a number of stock patterns, but bespoke variants can also be created.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

For further information on Z-CARD^® visit www.zcard.com or call Lander Davidson (Head of Sales) on 0207 801 3789

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Steinemann Lotus for Mirror Finish

Murray Lock (l) and David Malvern (r)

Mirror Finish, St Albans, Hertfordshire, one of the largest speciality trade print finishers in the south of England, has announced details regarding the purchase and installation of a Steinemann Lotus 102 SF laminating press.

The previously-owned machine was just purchased to provide Mirror Finish with the opportunity to differentiate its services within the standard coating and laminating sector. In order to get the most from the machine, the company has brought in the Steinemann technical support services provided by UK distributor M Partners. Machine inspection, training and a follow-up support programme have been commissioned to ensure Mirror Finish get the most from their investment, along with and the skills to enter new market sectors including the metallised arena.

Mirror Finish provides a wide range of post-press services to the print trade, including: lamination, overall UV varnish, spot UV varnish and re-moist gumming, along with many other more specialised effects.

David Malvern, Director of Mirror Finish, said: “The results from the Steinemann Lotus have been really impressive. It has been a significant benefit to us to draw on the expertise of Steinemann and M Partners. With their support we have been able to try out a number of new finishing activities, giving us a chance to test these for ourselves before releasing them to our customer base.”

Commenting on the support provided, Murray Lock, director of Surrey-based M Partners, said: “Buying product from the used sector generally has a financial benefit, but this can quickly be eroded if the machine is not set-up correctly, or is run inefficiently. By providing a full range of support services to such purchasers, M Partners can help make a real difference.”

Steinemann has developed laminating solutions to the same high-end, high performance standard as its world leading UV coating equipment. The specialist Swiss manufacturer has designed its laminating equipment for ease of operation and cost effective performance for the professional market. M Partners is the exclusive distributor for Steinemann equipment and support in the UK.

For further information on Steinemann products contact M-Partners on 020 8773 8123 or via the www.mpartners.co.uk web site.

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More Awards Nominations for Benson Group

Benson Group is delighted to announce to its customers that the quality and consistent performance of the company has again been recognised with two more awards nominations for the PrintWeek Awards 2009.

Following its double victory at the UK Packaging Awards of 2008, Benson Group has made the shortlist for the equally prestigious PrintWeek awards. The company has been nominated for an unprecedented sixth time in the shortlist for the Printing Company of the Year, and has also reached the final of the Packaging Printer of the Year. Benson Group is one of five finalists in the Printing category and one of just three that survived the scrutiny of the judges for the Packaging award.

The Bardon, Leicestershire, company has picked up a host of awards in the last year, including Packaging Printer of the Year, the Cartonboard Packaging Award, and the Customer Service Company of the Year at The Sunday Times sponsored Profit Track 100 awards.

The winners will be announced at a prestigious evening event on October 19^th at the Grosvenor House hotel in London’s Park Lane, where the great and good of UK print will assemble to celebrate the best of the industry.

Commenting on the latest awards announcement, Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group, said: “We are especially delighted to be considered to be one of the top five printing companies in the country – especially as it is our sixth consecutive year in the final of the Printing Company of the Year category. This helps to emphasise the consistency that we believe that we offer to the purchasers of our packaging products.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Reflections on PrintWeek Awards Shortlist

PrintWeek Awards Finalists Announced

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has been named as a finalist in the Post-Press Company of the Year for the 2009 PrintWeek Awards.

Reflections is one of just four companies to have passed the rigorous judging process, and the company will be hoping for even better things when the winner is announced on October 19^th. The PrintWeek Awards gala event takes place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, where the great and good of UK print will gather for an evening celebrating the very best in the industry.

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been named as a finalist for the Post-Press Company of the Year. Just to be included as one of the top four finishing companies in the country is a huge achievement for all of our team, and helps to emphasise the quality of work that we produce for our customers.”

Companies were required to submit a selection of finishing work for an award that was open to both trade finishers and in-house finishing departments. The judges were looking for the use of a finishing process (or a combination of processes) that genuinely adds value to a printed product. “We are fanatical about finishing, and believe very much in our ability to add value to a printed job. We were especially pleased with the four jobs that we submitted for the award, and it looks as if the judges were impressed too,” added Luke Hastings.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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TimeHarvest Launches Web-to-Print INSTANT!

TimeHarvest, the award-winning MIS system for digital print companies, has just released Web-to-Print INSTANT!, a simple on-line system designed to enable printers’ customers to order print jobs in just three clicks.

Geoff Stephens, Managing Director of TimeHarvest, said: “We’ve been studying how Web-to-Print is actually used in practice and learned that whilst there is a steady demand from professional marketeers to use fully-fledged systems, these normally require a degree of technical competence and a “digital” mindset. We’ve seen that underlying this is a substantial audience of busy people with modest technical ability who just want to order what they need then get straight back to their main job. For this group, print ordering is often just an irritation that gets in the way of completing their primary tasks and objectives.

“A perfect example of this is the training course or conference organiser, whose head is full of critical information on delegate numbers, venue logistics, special catering requirements, transport, accommodation, and many other things, for their next event. Typically, this person just wants to connect to a reliable printer, get a reasonable price for the delegate pack – surprisingly not always the cheapest! – place their order, then get straight back to dealing with the latest crisis.”

It is for this market that TimeHarvest has developed Web-to-Print INSTANT!, allowing the printers’ clients to easily browse to the relevant job (by icon AND description); get an immediate on-line price for their required quantity; then place their order in just three clicks (submission of new or amended artwork requires just two more clicks).

For existing users of TimeHarvest’s DigiQuote-PRO hosted quoting system, investment is modest at just less than £3,000 to buy or £145 per month to rent, plus a nominal monthly hosting fee, but with no transaction or “click” charges.

Summing up, Stephens comments that the beauty of the system for the printer is in its simplicity: “If customers can get what they need easily and quickly then they’ll use the system and place orders, but if there are too many barriers they’ll just pick up the phone instead, often to a competitor who hasn’t put so many obstacles in their way!”.

TimeHarvest was founded in 2003 by digital print veteran Geoff Stephens for the express purpose of developing affordable, easy-to-use software aimed squarely at users of modern digital presses. The company operates from the UK but has clients throughout Europe, North America and South Africa.

For further information visit the www.timeharvest.com web site or contact the company direct at TimeHarvest Ltd, Mill Corner, Littleworth Village, Oxford, OX33 1TR, telephone 01865 989111.

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International Dealer Manager for StudioRIP

Phil Turner, StudioRIP

UK-based independent software RIP provider StudioRIP UK Limited, Leighton Buzzard, has announced the appointment of Phil Turner as International Dealer Manager. In an early assignment, Phil will head the company’s contingent heading for PRINT 09 in the very near future.

Phil’s considerable industry experience includes sixteen years spent at Crosfield Electronics, where he held various senior positions, including Customer Services Manager for Europe, and President of Crosfield Electronics Canada. In 1993 Phil was a co-founder of Artline Solutions Ltd, and in 2003 he founded a specialist software company, Fits Distribution Ltd.

Commenting on his new role at StudioRIP, Phil Turner said: “My considerable experience in pre-press software tells me that StudioRIP is product with huge potential. I am looking forward to an exciting challenge, and believe that this software RIP offers a significant alternative to the mainstream products that currently dominate the market.”

With regard to Phil Turner’s appointment, Andy Hemmings, Sales Director for StudioRIP UK Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have somebody with Phil’s experience and industry knowledge working with us. His expertise will, we are quite sure, take StudioRIP to the next level as far as international sales are concerned. Whilst we do have dealers operating in a number of territories, I am convinced that we have only scratched the surface so far. We are looking to significantly enhance our international presence, and welcome interest from dealers worldwide.”

The current focus for the company is Version 3.0 of its StudioRIP product, which features production speeds comparable with market leaders at a fraction of the cost. Version 3.0 was released in November of last year. StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.8, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, direct imaging presses, inkjet and laser printers.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP before the show can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the http://www.studiorip.co.uk/download.php web page.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

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Reflections Optix: A 3D Print Revolution

Two images from the same Optix print

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced the release of Optix, a print based product that provides a new and innovative three-dimensional optical illusion. The technology was originally developed in America, but after a recent deal with the patent holder, Reflections are proud to announce they have exclusive rights to develop and produce Optix in UK and Europe.

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Optix takes the concept of 3D technology to a completely new level. It really is something for print buyers and graphic designers to get excited about. Optix creates unbelievable depth and the illusion of an image in suspended animation. The effect is so captivating that anybody who sees it is completely fascinated and compelled to try and look behind the sheet, and even attempt to put their hand inside the print!”

With regard to market opportunities, Luke Hastings added: “We see potential in every aspect of print but we’ve already received great feedback from within the packaging industry, point-of-sale and magazine sectors. We are already working closely alongside a company within the plastic gift card market, who showed tremendous interest in our early samples and I would expect the first UK order of Optix within the coming weeks.”

Optix has already been said to offer a significant improvement on lenticular printing, which has a reputation for being difficult and time consuming to produce. Lenticular has many limitations and struggles in particular with achieving perfect focus, whereas Optix can be applied in “spot” locations, leaving the main subject, such as a product or company logo, in perfect focus.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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UK’s First Ryobi 522GE for Stoke-on-Trent CC

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has purchased the UK’s first Ryobi 522GE press. The machine was supplied by Apex Digital Graphics, the official UK distributor for Ryobi presses.

The GE Series was announced as the successor to the HE Series of entry level presses by Ryobi at Drupa 2008. The range is now available from two to five colours, with low pile deliveries. The GE Series offers printers a significant space and price saving over equivalent Ryobi GX Series models.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council undertook a full corporate tendering process to establish the best value machine for its print operation, and the Ryobi press came out ahead of all other competing machines.

The new 522GE landscape B3-format press joins an existing Ryobi 3302 portrait format machine and an Itek 975 at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and replaces an aging Ryobi 3985. The new machine extends the council’s business relationship with Apex, which also supplied the current computer-to-plate equipment at the council’s print department, a DPX System.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council print officer Mark Hambleton said: “We looked carefully at the market place in choosing the machine, and are pleased with the choice we have made. We are looking forward to working with the company especially with the more complex jobs we are now being asked to produce.”

“The 522GE machine offers excellent print quality and superb value for money for both in-plant and commercial printers alike,” said Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director of Apex Digital Graphics. “It is an ideal first machine for a start-up company or a great upgrade path for printers looking to move from portrait to landscape production. It is also proving popular with printers wishing to upgrade their current 52cm presses, thanks to the high level of specification.”

Combining function and style in an attractive new design the Ryobi 520GE Series includes many features for reducing make-ready times. These include semi-automatic plate changing as standard, as well as automated cleaning for ink rollers and blankets, and Ink Volume Setter software for the efficient transfer of ink profile information from the pre-press department. The PCS off- press control unit incorporate Ryobi Program Inking to automatically supply ink to the ink rollers to match the image from the very start of printing.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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StudioRIP to Exhibit at PRINT 09

StudioRIP at PRINT 09

UK-based independent software RIP provider StudioRIP UK Limited, Leighton Buzzard, has announced that it will be exhibiting at the forthcoming PRINT 09 event taking place in Chicago from September 11 to 16. The company can be found on stand 6655 during the show.

The company will focus its exhibit on Version 3.0 of its StudioRIP product, which features production speeds comparable with market leaders at a fraction of the cost. The product was originally released in November of last year. StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.8, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, direct imaging presses, inkjet and laser printers.

Commenting on the decision to exhibit at PRINT 09, Andy Hemmings, Sales Director at StudioRIP, said: “We are currently looking to expand the international sales of StudioRIP, and are seeking dealers in many territories, as well as partners looking for an independent and efficient RIP solution. We believe that PRINT 09 will provide us with a great opportunity to find the right people that will take this software RIP to the next level as far as worldwide sales are concerned.”

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP before the show can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the http://www.studiorip.co.uk/download.php web page.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

About StudioRIP

StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.8, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, direct imaging presses, inkjet and laser printers.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the www.studiorip.co.uk web site.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

StudioRIP 3.0 also includes a flexographic option, which is capable of providing 37.5 degree angles, flexo dot, dot gain, and dispro compensations. The software also provides a seamless option for flexographic plate production.

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Benson Group Make UK Packaging Awards Shortlist

Following its double victory at the UK Packaging Awards of 2008, Benson Group has again made the shortlist for this year’s Packaging News event. The current holder of the Packaging Company of the Year title, Benson Group is featured on the shortlist for 2009.

The Bardon, Leicestershire company has picked up a host of awards in recent months, including Packaging Printer of the Year, the Cartonboard Packaging Award, and the Customer Service Company of the Year at The Sunday Times sponsored Profit Track 100 awards.

Winners of the Packaging News UK Packaging Awards for 2009 will be announced on November 4th at an evening event to celebrate the very best in packaging products at the Grosvenor House hotel in London’s Park Lane.

Commenting on the latest awards announcement, Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group, said: “It is always a great pleasure for the company to be recognised by awards judges for providing top quality packaging products to both the food and pharmaceutical markets. We are immensely proud to have collected a number of awards during the last year, and are delighted to be included once again in the shortlist for the Packaging Company of the Year for 2009.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Low-Chemistry Plates for Arlon Printers

Richard Cockerill, Director, Arlon Printers

Arlon Printers Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, has made a significant environmental statement by becoming one of the first UK printers to adopt the new Brillia HD PRO-V low-chemistry plate from Fujifilm. The plates are being used in conjunction with a Screen Plate Rite 2055vi platesetter, and both plates and computer-to-plate device have been purchased through Apex Digital Graphics, Hemel Hempstead.

Commenting on the new plate production solution, Richard Cockerill, Director of Arlon Printers, said: “Our previous system – a Screen 1050 using Agfa LAP-R plates – had performed exceptionally well for us for 10 years. Unfortunately Agfa has decided to stop the manufacture of the plates, hence our need to seek a new solution. We had been very impressed with the Screen hardware, and we knew that Apex, our near neighbours in Hemel Hempstead, were distributors for their products. Apex was able to demonstrate the latest Screen CtP product to us, and recommended the Fujifilm PRO-V plates, as they offered an extremely “green”, environmentally friendly plate which fitted our needs. Our use of chemistry has now been virtually eliminated, which is a great environmental message to send to our customers.”

The Brillia HD PRO-V plate combines the benefits of low-chemistry CtP with the proven low cost of ownership of violet imaging, bringing unmatched quality, consistency and productivity to plate production. On press the plate benefits from Fujifilm’s patented MultiGrain technology, ensuring optimum ink/water balance and advanced handling performance.

With regard to the performance of the plate in the press room, David Cockerill, fellow Director of Arlon Printers, added: “They have been superb on the presses – they ink up quickly and we have yet to find any limitation with regard to run-length.” The company run two Komori presses – one four and one five-colour.

“We were both very impressed by the team at Apex Digital Graphics. As our pre-press operation is on the upper floor of our building, they had to arrange for a window to be removed in order to crane the CtP machine in, but everything went very smoothly, and they have been a very professional partner to work with,” added Richard Cockerill.

Established in 1966 by brothers Richard and David Cockerill, Arlon Printers has established a reputation for high-quality colour printing in the general commercial environment. With a turnover in excess of £1 million, the company is able to handle print projects through from initial graphic design to in-house finishing and delivery.

Commenting on the installation on behalf of Apex Digital Graphics, Joint Managing Director Bob Usher, said: “Arlon Printing is our first customer for the new Brillia HD PRO-V plates. The new Fujifilm plate offers significant benefits to the printer from both an environmental perspective and the convenience offered in day-to-day production. With significantly less chemistry involved in plate creation the printer has to order, store and dispose of less product. The processing device also has a smaller footprint, meaning less space is required for the whole platesetter unit.”

Apex Digital Graphics can be contacted on 01442 235 236 or via the www.apexdigital.co.uk web site.

For further information on Arlon Printers call 01442 243 719 or visit the www.arlonprint.co.uk web site.

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Able-Labels Further Enabled with StudioRIP Install

Able-Labels, Earls Barton, Northampton, leaders in the production of printed self-adhesive address labels and other personalised goods since 1954, has announced details regarding the purchase of StudioRIP to enhance the company’s pre-press department. The software package was purchased through leading StudioRIP dealer Marlowe Graphic Services, Leighton Buzzard.

Labels for reel-fed production, rubber stamps, fabric markers, and golf tee’s are all produced by Able-Labels using flexographic printing plates. Origination for these plates requires the production of films using an imagesetter. A recent upgrade of the Apple front-end equipment and associated software packages at Able-Labels led to issues with the aging RIP on its Agfa AccuSet 800 imagesetting system, and support specialists Marlowe Graphic Services (MGS) were called for advice.

“Once the service experts at MGS looked at the system they could immediately see that our RIP was not sufficiently up-to-date to work with the latest front-end software,” said Tina Willson, Office Manager at the Earls Barton site. “The most cost effective solution was to change the RIP for a StudioRIP, which solved the problem.”

As well as producing films for flexographic work, the imagesetter acts as a reliable back-up for the company’s computer-to-plate system. “We had only installed the StudioRIP for a week when our CtP system developed a problem, and we had to revert to film production for all of our work,” added Tina Willson.

Commenting on the installation for MGS, Managing Director Darren Eliot said: “The situation at Able-Labels was not uncommon – company’s update their front-end systems, but don’t always realise that this has a knock-on effect for older RIP’s, as they are typically not PostScript 3 compliant. StudioRIP is suitable to work with the very latest software products, as well as a wide range of existing imagesetter products, computer-to-plate systems, proofers, and large format imaging devices, and is often the ideal solution to such problems.”

Able-Labels handles between 2,000 and 3,500 jobs every week, and its offering covers a constantly expanding 850 products, details of which can be found at its www.able-labels.co.uk web site. The company deals with some 92,000 regular customers.

For further information on Marlowe Graphic Services visit the www.marlowe.co.uk web site, or call 0870 777 0920.

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Apex Launches Five Colour Ryobi GE Press

Ryobi 525GE

Apex Digital Graphics, the official UK distributor for Ryobi presses, has announced details regarding the launch of the Ryobi 525GE B3 landscape format offset press.

The GE Series was announced as the successor to the HE Series of entry level presses by Ryobi at Drupa 2008. To date the range has included two and four-colour press variants. The announcement of the five-colour version of the machine offers printers a significant space and price saving over the equivalent Ryobi GX Series machine.

With regard to the configuration of the new press, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director at Apex Digital Graphics, said: “The five-colour configuration of the GX Series is probably our most popular. The GE variant offers considerable automation, but will take some 38% less space than a five-colour GX machine, making it ideal for companies where shop floor space is at a premium.”

The new 525GE will come complete with low pile delivery – another space saving feature. The press can also be fitted with a swing-away numbering unit (NP option) – the first time that this option has been made available for a five-colour Ryobi press. The NP option can also be retrofitted. As standard the machine will be shipped with Ryobi’s PCS-JX printing control system, incorporating an LCD touch-screen display and on-board PC for efficient networking.

“This new GE machine gives us more options,” added Neil Handforth. “We have had situations in the past where prospects were keen to invest in a five-colour B3format machine, but available space meant that the GX was not suitable for them. The GE, with its very compact design, will help us to resolve such issues.”

Combining function and style in an attractive new design the Ryobi 520GE Series includes many features for reducing make-ready times. These include semi-automatic plate changing as standard, as well as automated cleaning for ink rollers and blankets, and Ink Volume Setter software for the efficient transfer of ink profile information from the pre-press department. The PCS-JX incorporates Ryobi Program Inking to automatically supply ink to the ink rollers to match the image from the very start of printing.

Apex expects to show the new 525GE press at its Autumn Open House, which will take place on November 4^th and 5^th. List price for the new 525GE is expected to be in the region of £289,000, dependent upon specification.

Apex Digital Graphics

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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Wren Press Adds StudioRIP for Film Creation

Wren Press, London, England’s finest private stationers, has added a new StudioRIP solution to extend the life of its existing Linotronic 330 imagesetter. The product was placed at Wren Press by Ripware, a dealer for the UK-based independent software RIP provider StudioRIP UK Limited, Leighton Buzzard.

Commenting on the installation, Paul Foster, Managing Director of Ripware, said: “Whilst Wren Press utilises CtP equipment for much of its output, film is still essential for the creation of engraving and embossing work. The StudioRIP solution updates the ageing Linotype Rip 50, giving Wren Press significant savings in day-to-day operation as well as enhanced productivity.”

Adding the users perspective to the new install, Daniel Jones, Managing Director at Wren Press said: “The first thing that has made a big difference is the preview system – that enables us to save time, to save film, and, therefore to save money. By being able to spot any errors before we commit to film and plates – errors that often don’t surface until the job is on the press – we are now much more efficient. The StudioRIP preview even highlights moiré issues on screen – problems that we would not have been able to see on the films.”

Daniel was also been impressed by the “Save Film” feature, where individual jobs can be ganged up prior to output. He estimates that this is already reducing film costs by as much as 50%, plus associated savings on processor chemistry.

The Wren Press, with offices in London and New York, is an established family business offering a comprehensive range of diverse print services. The company is regarded as England’s leading specialist in this field, producing high quality bespoke invitations for weddings, parties, christenings, and bar mitzvahs; personal and business writing paper; and many other items of print based stationery.

Further expansion of the new StudioRIP solution is already under consideration, with the ability to drive multiple output devices being something that has an appeal at Wren Press.

In terms of support for the software product, Daniel Jones has already been impressed by StudioRIP’s on-line help desk: “It’s a huge bonus to have such easily accessible support. If there is something that we can’t solve here, we can call StudioRIP, they then take over our machine remotely and resolve the issue.”

About StudioRIP

StudioRIP is a software RIP compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.6, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, inkjet and laser printers.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the www.studiorip.co.uk web site.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

StudioRIP 3.0 also includes a flexographic option, which is capable of providing 37.5 degree angles, flexo dot, dot gain, and dispro compensations. The software also provides a seamless option for flexographic plate production.

For further information on Wren Press call 020 7351 5887; for further information on Ripware, the StudioRIP dealer, call 01483 578 618 or 07808 579 918.

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Reflections Introduce Soft Touch Range

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director, Reflections

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced details of a new finishing range, the Reflections Soft Touch Range, which includes both a full-cover laminate finish and a spot UV varnish. Reflections are believed to be the first company to provide such a “matching pair” solution.

Soft Touch has been developed by Reflections to provide that up-market, luxury feel to print, publications and packaging. As with other recent tactile finishes released by the company, it helps to emphasise the importance of touch to the printed product – a feature that cannot be replicated via the internet!

Commenting on this latest introduction Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “The Reflections Soft Touch range of finishes has been developed by our in-house team to address customer demand. We believe that they can add a really creative touch to printed work. Whilst the obvious application would be for product packaging targeted at the luxury end of the market, I am convinced that there are many other potential uses for such a finish, either in the full laminate form or via the application of spot UV varnish.”

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Troika AniCAM: an Anilox QC Tool for Litho Printers?

Troika Systems Limited, Highworth, a UK company at the forefront of innovative development for print-based quality control products, has detailed how the recent release of its significantly enhanced AniCAM-P product, an in-depth measurement tool for anilox rolls used on narrow and wide web and corrugated flexo presses, can also provide great assistance for very many litho printers.

Whilst AniCAM-P is being targeted initially at the flexographic printing sector, many lithographic printers may also find significant benefits from the product. The majority of high-performance coating units on litho presses are based on a flexographic printing unit. Printers with a keen eye for the quality and consistency of coating should be regularly measuring the anilox volume laterally and managing their roll inventory to ensure optimum performance.

In addition to this a number of recent press introductions, including the Heidelberg Anicolor and KBA’s Cortina, Karat and Rapida G machines, incorporate anilox rollers within their inking system. “Such developments need a quality control solution, and AniCAM-P offers the ability to measure the important detail on such machines,” said Phil Hall, Managing Director of Troika Systems.

“Delivering consistent, quality coating on a litho press with a modern coating unit requires a reasonable level of flexographic process understanding,” said Phil Hall. “Poor cleaning and maintenance of the anilox roll within a coating unit will significantly impair its performance, and subsequently the quality of coating produced by the machine. Errors introduced to a job at the coating stage, when the job is virtually complete, can be the most costly of all. At the very least, machine manufacturers technical staff should be equipped with an AniCAM-P in order to aid efficient fault finding.”

For presses utilising anilox rolls within the inking system, Phil Hall sees the AniCAM-P as essential tool for the printer to maintain quality. “Whilst it is a litho system that is delivering the ink to the substrate, any company working with a machine that utilises an anilox roll for inking needs to understand the potential problems of this component. Poor cleaning – which can occur even when using an automated cleaning system – can lead to a build up of ink within the anilox cell, thus reducing its capacity to transfer ink effectively. Unless the printer or his engineer understands these potential problems, and is equipped to test for such errors, they could be spending an awful lot of time and money searching for a solution to an ink density problem in all of the wrong places.”

AniCAM-P for Printers

Effective anilox roll management has the potential to save a litho or flexo printer a significant amount of press downtime, plus the real-world costs incurred in reprinting a job that was virtually complete. Measuring and archiving volume readings for each roll helps to monitor cleaning issues as well as wear of the roll – both major causes of press downtime. By reducing flexo machine downtime by just 2% the owner of three presses running double-day shift could save over €300,000 over a three year period – significantly more than the €10,350 investment that would be required to purchase the AniCAM-P. Similar savings can be expected in busy litho print businesses where anilox rolls are employed within the press inking system.

For further information on Troika Systems quality control products visit the www.troika-systems.com web site.

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Hit the Spot with “One Hit Wonder”

Sample Print of "One Hit Wonder"

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced the availability of a new finishing solution to overcome problems encountered in spot UV varnishing. “One Hit Wonder”, a specially formulated product exclusive to Reflections, provides for spot UV work on absorbent substrates in just one pass.

“One Hit Wonder” offers an effective solution for adding spot UV to particularly porous materials, such as fine art boards, as well as those “cheap and cheerful” substrates.

Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Spot UV on some boards has proved to be problematical do the absorbent nature of the stock. The usual solution is to run the job through the process twice to ensure effective coverage. On tight registration work this can be quite awkward, time consuming, and certainly not cost effective. We have developed “One Hit Wonder” to reduce the time and costs to produce such work. It is a highly effective solution, and works with any substrate in just one pass.”

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections is exampled by MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highe st level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Benson Group Returns to Heidelberg for 2nd XL 105

Exactly two years after returning to Heidelberg from a rival supplier, Benson Group, the current UK Packaging Company of the Year, is installing a second Speedmaster XL 105 at its Bardon plant. The press will be commissioned by the end of July.

The new six-colour with coating unit will again run alcohol free and is selected as a direct result of the performance of the first press.

Benson Group Managing Director, Mark Kerridge says: “Two years ago we bought the XL 105 because we wanted to look at new technology and use it in anger. It has proved very successful, running most commonly at 18,000sph, with an impressive make-ready time and taking the quality benchmark to a new and reliably good level.”

As a result of public interest in environmental issues many of Benson Group’s customers are concerned to engage in the green debate. The Bardon plant is very environmentally aware and this has resulted in the move to zero alcohol, the use of spectrophotometric measurement and print colour management to reduce waste sheets, and a focus on recycling and re-using of all resources generally.

Benson Group, which acquired certain trading assets of Cameron Linn at the turn of the year, is a £93m group. The Bardon plant outputs 750 million cartons a year for the food sector, whilst the group also maintains a strong interest in pharmaceutical carton production.

“Demand is still relatively good. People are eating in more (out less) and the pharmaceutical sector is still retaining good volumes,” says Mr Kerridge. “We have noticed some change in product mix with a move from luxury to standard and economy products. But brand is still important and four process colours plus two specials is still a well used combination. There has been a lot of rebranding and repositioning for greater shelf appeal as a result of the downturn.”

Both XL 105 presses at Bardon are fitted with Axis Control. “We like the ease and speed of use of AxisControl. It is very suitable to our production requirements. The key issue is that we have accurate colour measurement as we work to the ISO 12647-2 standard,” says Mr Kerridge.

The press also has coating, like the first, and it will offer UV, IR and aqueous options to its customers.

“We have invested significantly over the past seven years and have grown organically and by acquisition. We will continue to look at more options in future,” says Mr Kerridge.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Portfolios Show Guide a Touching Success

Portfolios show guide with Fabric laminated cover

Portfolios, a combined exhibition and seminar staged by the owners of The Creative Handbook and Creative Review, which took place in June, utilised the recently launched “Fabric” lamination product from Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, for the cover of its show guide and product catalogue.

The event was targeted at art directors, art buyers, designers and buyers of photography and illustrations. “With such a creative audience in mind, we needed something particularly eye-catching and different for the show guide,” said Janice Hoyes-Thompson, Group Production Manager. “Finishing specialists Reflections were able to provide the ideal solution. The fabric-feel cover went down very well indeed with all who went to the show. We noted that a lot of people were talking about it, and we received many favourable comments.”

The substrate combines a card backing and a laminated fabric surface. Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Unlike some previous attempts at providing a fabric-feel substrate, this product offers superb printing characteristics. This new substrate really does make a printed item stand out from the crowd, and the tactile finish means that people will really take notice.”

Production of the show guide and product catalogue was handled by St Ives, with Reflections providing the unique cover for the publication. A production run of 2,000 copies was produced for the Portfolios event, which was in its first year.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections include MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Third Xeikon Label Press for CS Labels

Xeikon 3000 Digital Label Press

CS Labels Limited, Willenhall, West Midlands, has announced the installation of its third Xeikon label press. The latest purchase is a Xeikon 3000, which has replaced one of the company’s two Xeikon 330 digital label presses. The install comes just thirteen months after CS Labels purchased its last 330 machine, and less than two-and-a-half years since the company made its initial digital investment.

Simon Smith, Managing Director of CS Labels, said: “We have demonstrated consistent growth in digital label production since our initial investment, and this latest purchase helps to ensure that we are still at the forefront of production techniques. It also demonstrates our desire to continually invest in the very best label production equipment. The Xeikon 3000 images to a higher resolution at 1200 dots per inch and produces even more reliable, consistent colour quality over a wider colour gamut. Once again, it allows us to offer something more to our customers.”

Xeikon 3000 offers an increased imaging width of 322mm, against the 307mm imaging width of the Xeikon 330 machine. All machines are based on a 330mm substrate width.

“Our business has changed shape significantly since our initial move into digital labels. We are now producing some 60% of our turnover through the Xeikon machines. Our flexo and screen printing equipment is still important to CS Labels and to our customers, but digital has certainly taken over as our main production system.”

The Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

Existing post press equipment at CS Labels is suitable for varnishing, laminating, cutting, slitting, matrix stripping and re-reeling the finished printed product. The company is due to install a second GM finishing unit in order to handle the increased throughput of the Xeikon 3000. “We were able to run the two Xeikon 330’s with one finishing system off-line, but it really was running at full capacity. There were times when it did cause us a bottleneck in production. With the increased throughput of the Xeikon 3000 we definitely need two finishing systems,” added Simon Smith.

For job preparation, both Xeikon presses are equipped with the truly open, scalable and modular X-800 Digital Front-End (DFE), combining extensive pre-press functionality including a high-speed RIP with impressive variable data printing processing. In addition, the X-800 DFE is designed to deliver the highest print quality level, a practical die marker function and precise step-and-repeat functionality. The system is also equipped to handle complex operations such as sequential numbering and barcodes.

With regard to the markets for digitally produced labels, Simon Smith said: “We have an ever increasing amount of trade work coming in both from other printers and print brokers. We also have a loyal direct customer base which we are also keen to keep expanding on.”

Commenting on the new CS Labels purchase, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “CS Labels continues to demonstrate how a traditional label printing company can adapt to the digital world, and can continue to grow its business by purchasing the right equipment to suit the current market.”

CS Labels enjoys a central location at Willenhall, near Wolverhampton, where it has been based for six years. For more information on the company, visit the new www.cslabels.co.uk web site.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

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Benson Group to Sponsor Student Starpack Awards

Benson Group, based in Bardon, Leicestershire, The Sunday Times ProfitTrack 100 Customer Service Company of the Year 2009, has agreed a sponsorship package for two categories of the Starpack Awards 2010. Benson Group takes over as a sponsor of both the student and school categories from ProCarton.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group, said: “We are always keen to be involved in the education and training of people who show an interest in the world of packaging. By promoting these two Starpack Awards categories we are illustrating our enthusiasm at both the school and college levels of education, and hopefully helping to create awareness and interest in the packaging industry in the minds of young people.”

Student Starpack

Packaging is an exciting industry. In an increasingly competitive consumer market there is a growing demand for packaging designers: people who are capable of designing packs that are not only graphically attractive, but which also meet the functional requirements to preserve and protect the contents and can be produced cost-effectively with due regard to environmental issues.

Entries for Student Starpack are invited from students on a wide range of courses, some with a graphics emphasis and others concerned with structural and product design, as well as those from a materials and technology courses. Involvement in the awards has previously led to a number of employment opportunities for successful entrants.

Schools Starpack

The Schools Starpack Award has been designed to encourage students to take up a career in the exciting world of consumer packaging design. The selection of briefs that will be provided offer excellent opportunities for Key Stage 3, 4 and AS level pupils, via either individual or joint activity. Participation in the awards can also help to provide extension activities for after-school clubs.

Full entry details will be posted on the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site as soon as they become available.

About the Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008 and The Sunday Times ProfitTrack 100 Customer Service Company of the Year 2009, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Parrot Print Ltd Installs Third Ryobi Press

Ryobi 524 HXX B3-landscape format press

Parrot Print Ltd of Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, has recently made another big step forward following the purchase of a Ryobi 524HXX along with a DPX System for computer-to-plate production. Both products were purchased from UK Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics, Hemel Hempstead.

The pre-owned B3-format 524HXX joins another Ryobi machine – a single colour 520 – and replaces a Ryobi 662 A2 format press. “We are already finding that we are able to produce so much more work with these two new additions,” said Roger Broderick, Managing Director of Parrot Print. “We are able to quote for a much wider range of jobs now and meet the tighter deadlines that customers are demanding.

“Make-ready on the 524HXX is significantly faster, and the press really does fly through the work at speeds of up to 13,000 sheets per hour. The addition of the DPX System for platemaking also makes a tremendous difference with regard to make-ready. The four plates are usually pretty close to perfect register straight away,” added Roger Broderick.

The timing of the investment fitted well with Parrot Print’s on-going expansion plans. The company, which has been established for 15 years, moved from three small units to a larger, single unit on Highlode Industrial Estate in Ramsey just 18 months ago. “We needed more floor space than we had available at our previous site, and the new premises are far more suitable for print production. We did look at the possibility of moving to a digital press, but our range of jobs really pointed us back towards litho in the end. Whilst we are printing quite a lot of work at the 500 copies end of the spectrum, we also go right through to run lengths of 50,000 or 100,000, and this type of work just isn’t practical or cost effective to produce digitally,” said Roger Broderick.

The Ryobi 524HXX prints four colours onto B3-format sheets. Features include semi-automatic plate changing, Ryobi Program Inking, the Ryobi AAC aqua automatic control system, and automatic ink roller/blanket cleaning devices, all controlled via the Ryobi Printing Control System.

The DPX System is the UK’s most popular polyester platemaking system. It is based on an internal drum digital exposure unit which produces polyester plates up to 460 x 550 mm in size. The product features a wide range of imaging resolutions, from 900 to 3600 dots per inch and high productivity. The use of dual-plate cassettes provides tremendous benefits for printing companies utilising more than one format of press, as two different sizes of plate can be produced without the need to change material in the output device. Two full 61m rolls of polyester plate material can be accommodated.

Commenting on the installation for Apex Digital Graphics, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director, said: “The installation at Parrot Print illustrates the benefits that Apex can offer printers via our range of used machinery. Used presses are refurbished by our technical specialists, using new Ryobi parts to replace worn components, and the machines are tested for print quality prior to delivery to the customer. These pre-owned presses can be the ideal solution for a lot of print companies looking to expand and grow, but not wanting to commit to the size of investment required for new machinery.”

Apex Digital Graphics Limited

Apex Digital Graphics is a specialist in the supply and service of pre-press and press equipment. Apex is the official UK distributor of Ryobi presses, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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Jade Adds Specialist Digital Finishing

Further to the recent announcement regarding its first move into digital print production with the purchase of an HP Indigo press 3500, Jade Press Ltd, Leeds, has detailed the purchase of specialist finishing equipment for its digital department. The Morgana products were also purchased from Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey, the company that supplied the Indigo machine.

Commenting on the decision to add a Morgana Documaster and Morgana CardXtra for the finishing of its digital output, Darren Shepherd, Managing Director of Jade Press, said: “The Morgana equipment was purchased to provide creasing, folding and stitching capabilities for the shorter runs typically produced by digital. Our research, prior to the purchase, suggested that some local suppliers seemed to be completing digital work by hand producing very poor finished results, poor folds , cracked spines, and inaccurate stitching. In our opinion, adding a professional finish to a digitally produced job is just as important as getting the print end of the work right.

“The Morgana kit is producing superb quality, and we have also included the Square Back option to create a square spine on booklets with higher page counts. This has been so popular with customers that we have even finished a few litho jobs with the Morgana kit to achieve the square spine.

“These units are very important additions to the investment as it means we have created a high quality digital finishing solution, where delivery time is not compromised by the volume of litho work that we are working on.

Established in 1973, Jade Press has built a reputation for quality, reliability, honesty and integrity – all the values that a family owned business can ensure are continued to be delivered. The company works in partnership with UK and international clients, providing the best solutions for their general commercial printing requirements. Print advice is based on a wealth of experience from a dedicated team capable of delivering a wide range of solutions.

Morgana DocuMaster

The JDF-ready Morgana DocuMaster is a complete digital finishing system which provides near-line bookletmaking for printers producing pre-collated sets from digital print engines. Because it creases sheets as part of the feeding and bookletmaking operation it dispenses with the need for removing sheets that need creasing, creasing them and then re-collating the set. In addition to producing quality booklets with a perfect bound appearance, the unit will also act as a stand-alone creaser for 4pp documents and handles perforating as well.

The DocuMaster will handle variable data material, sending and retrieving data via a web browser, ready to be integrated into a complete workflow and MIS package. It is designed to work with any existing system without the need for any additional software.

The DocuMaster takes a maximum sheet size of 630 x 330mm and handles weights in excess of 350gsm. It has a programming facility that allows 9 repeat jobs to be stored and instantly retrieved.

Morgana CardXtra

In contrast to the multi-functional DocuMaster the Morgana CardXtra is a highly specialised unit designed specifically to produce business cards simply, quickly and cost effectively. It offers several programmes to store jobs for repeat work and optional cutters for other work, such as postcards, are available.

The suction-feed CardXtra is fast to set up, takes A3 sheets up to 325gsm and produces 140 business cards a minute. It offers huge savings over conventional methods of business card production.

Commenting on the installation for Digital People, Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, said: “Jade Press is a high-quality litho printer that can see real opportunity by expanding into the digital printing sector. Darren and the team can appreciate the need for a complete solution with regard to digital, and it was important for them to make the additional investment in finishing equipment in order to provide the company with a department that could produce work regardless of what is being produced by the litho side of the business.”

For further information on Jade Press call 0113 248 0929 or visit the www.jadeprint.com web site. For further details about Digital People call 0845 130 1445 or visit the www.thedigitalpeople.com web site.

Ryobi DI Elected Winner by Kall Kwik Horsham

Ryobi's Direct Imaging Press

Kall Kwik Horsham has declared its recent purchase of a Ryobi 3404X-DI press to be a real winner following a significant vote in its favour from political party UKIP.

A local UK Independence Party (UKIP) representative recently approached the high street based franchise to produce some posters. After a swift and cost effective job was produced, further discussions took place with party leaders, and an agreement was reached for Kall Kwik Horsham to produce the political group’s publicity material for the whole of the UK during the recent local and European elections. An ongoing relationship is now being forged.

“The Ryobi 3404X-DI was only installed by Apex Digital Graphics at the beginning of May,” said Zoe Glavin of Kall Kwik Horsham. “It took a couple of weeks for training and for us to get ourselves used to the press, and then we were producing election material for UKIP at all hours of the day! The new press is so quick – we just couldn’t have produced this volume of work without it. We were downloading files into the press straight from the customer’s e-mail, and then taking the printed sheets from the press to the guillotine for trimming and packing. The waterless inking system of the DI meant that we didn’t have to wait for sheets to dry – they are dry to the touch when they come off the press.” The performance of the press has enabled Kall Kwik Horsham to out-perform most other UK Kall Kwik businesses, according to recent monthly production statistics.

With regard to the selection of a DI press, which has joined an traditional two-colour Ryobi offset press, partner George Glavin added, “We typically handle run lengths from 500 through to 5,000, but our most regular requirement is for runs of 1,000 or 2,000 prints. This work is ideal for the DI style of press. Our customers are also very demanding with regard to turnaround time, and the waterless printing system on the DI is ideal from this perspective. The other important factor in favour of the DI is its footprint. We are in a high street location – which suits our business very well – but space is at a premium. To be able to have platemaking and printing in one compact unit is ideal for us.

“Our press operator thinks the machine is absolutely fantastic,” added George Glavin. “Four-colour images are in perfect register from sheet one.”

Kall Kwik Horsham employs a team of six, and has been in the hands of Zoe and George Glavin for two years. The Kall Kwik Horsham business itself has been running for some 20 years and still benefits from a high street location.

With regard to the support provided by Apex Digital Graphics, Zoe Glavin has nothing but praise: “Apex have been fantastic right the way through the purchasing process. They are a nice company to deal with. We purchase all of our supplies through them now, and it is such a pleasure to be able to actually speak to a person when you phone, rather than an automated answering service!”

Ryobi 3404X-DI

The 3404X-DI provides for A3-sized, portrait format, four-colour digital offset printing, and feature on-press imaging and waterless printing. The machines incorporates the ProFire Excel imaging system, which uses a 16-micron laser spot size, imaging at 2540 dots per inch. This resolution makes the 3404X-DI capable of supporting FM screening and conventional screening up to 300 lines per inch (120 l/cm).

As an aid to further automation, 3404X-DI also features an enhanced Ryobi Program Inking system. This automatically selects the conversion curve for each colour according to the image area ratio calculated from pre-press data. The ink-key settings, ink fountain roller speed, and the number of contacts by the ink doctor roller are all controlled via information from the conversion curves, assuring optimum inking throughout the run. The system is claimed to provide highly accurate inking from start-up, and thus minimal waste.

Commenting on the installation for Apex Digital Graphics, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director, said: “The requirements at Kall Kwik Horsham suited the DI’s capabilities very well. A typical run length of 1,000 to 2,000 copies, quick handling of the sheets for fast turnaround, and a limited amount of space – an ideal set of demands for a DI press. The press has already shown it capabilities under pressure during its first few weeks with the fast and efficient production of time-sensitive election materials. This illustrates very well the sort of performance that such a machine is capable of.”

Apex Digital Graphics can be contacted on 01442 235 236 or via the www.apexdigital.co.uk web site.

For further information on Kall Kwik Horsham call 01403 211 511.

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New AniCAM Set to Optimise Press Up-Time

Troika Systems Limited, Highworth, a UK company at the forefront of innovative development for print-based quality control products, has announced the release of a significant enhancement to its AniCAM product, an in-depth measurement tool for anilox rolls used on narrow and wide web and corrugated flexo presses.

Good anilox roll maintenance, measurement and management lies at the heart of what flexo printers require to ensure the minimum of press downtime. To date there has been no really effective product to help printers to solve these issues. “Most flexo printers know that good anilox measurement and management is the logical move towards a healthier balance sheet,” said Phil Hall. “Poor management of a printer’s anilox inventory is a guaranteed way to increase press downtime. A significant percentage of print problems in the flexo sector are down to anilox roll issues, and with press time costing typically 400 Euro’s per hour, it doesn’t take too many anilox problems causing density variations or job re-runs to show how cost effective an investment in anilox measurement and management with an AniCAM can be.”

The latest enhancement has led to the company releasing two versions of the specialist camera-based unit, AniCAM-P and AniCAM-M. The two new variants are targeted at specific markets – AniCAM-P for flexographic print producers and AniCAM-M for anilox roll manufacturers. “Our research and our experiences with the first generation of AniCAM product has shown us that the requirements of anilox manufacturers differ slightly from printers needs,” said Phil Hall, Managing Director of Troika Systems.

With regard to the anilox roll manufacturers, Troika already has 19 of the 40+ suppliers worldwide using its AniCAM products. The new AniCAM-M product provides many additional features, including the ability to read more complex engravings such as trihelical, emerald and HVP, as well as “Press-O-Film” aluminium foil cell profiling materials.

No Worldwide Standard

“Perhaps the most significant enhancement for manufacturers, however, is our ability to be compatible with their current system of measurement,” states Phil Hall. To explain this statement one needs to appreciate that there is no universal system for measuring anilox rolls. Manufacturers have historically developed their own standards. Phil Hall explains further: “As the number of anilox manufacturers grew over time, so anilox measurement evolved. Each manufacturer adopted the method of measurement they knew best and could afford. Consequently there is often a large difference in ink released from rolls from different manufacturers, despite the rolls being marked up as having the same volume.”

Troika conducted its own research into these issues back in 2007. It took an anilox roll with 12 bands (from 40 lpcm – 480 lpcm) to 15 anilox manufacturers in Europe and North America where the manufactures were asked to measure the bands using their standard method of measurement. “The results were stunning. We found the minimum variation on one of the bands was 27% and the most extreme band had a 141% volume variation,” explains Phil Hall. “This makes life particularly difficult for the manufacturer of anilox volume measurement tools, as each anilox manufacturer will, of course, defend its own standard of measurement and will not want to change the standard which they may have used over the past 5, 10 or 15 years. Our solution is to calibrate the new AniCAM-M to translate readings to any manufacturer’s standard. This means that roll suppliers can either translate AniCAM readings to their own internal system, or use our standard readings. This will help us to overcome a major objection.”

AniCAM-P for Printers

Effective anilox roll management has the potential to save a flexo printer a significant amount of press downtime. Measuring and archiving volume readings for each roll helps to monitor cleaning issues as well as wear of the roll – both major causes of press downtime. By reducing machine downtime by just 2% the owner of three presses running double-day shift could save over €300,000 over a three year period – significantly more than the €10,350 investment that would be required to purchase the AniCAM-P.

“We currently have in excess of 150 installations of our original AniCAM products, and believe that our new enhanced system will appeal to a good number of new customers,” said Phil Hall. “The important thing for the printer is to take the guesswork out of problem situations. If you know that the anilox is doing what it should do, then that reduces the potential problem areas within the press significantly. Certainly printers that are already using the original AniCAM product appreciate the savings that they have been able to make, and the more efficient printing service that they have been able to provide for their customers.”

Wider Market

Whilst AniCAM-P will be targeted initially at the flexographic printing sector, many lithographic printers may also find a need for this solution. The majority of high-performance coating units on litho presses are based on a flexo printing system. Printings with a keen eye for the quality and consistency of coating should be measuring their anilox rolls. In addition to this a number of recent press introductions, including the Heidelberg Anicolor and KBA’s Cortina, Karat and Rapida G machines, incorporate anilox rollers within their inking system. “Such developments need a quality control solution, and AniCAM-P offers the ability to measure the important detail on such machines,” concluded Phil Hall.

For further information on Troika Systems quality control products visit the www.troika-systems.com web site.

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Benson Group Triumphs at Profit Track 100 Awards Dinner

Andrew Benson receives the award

Following its inclusion in The Sunday Times “Profit Track 100” listing back in April of this year, Benson Group celebrated again this week when the Bardon, Leicestershire company was named the Customer Service Company of the Year at the Profit Track 100 awards night.

The invitation-only awards event for the owners and directors of companies featured in the latest Profit Track 100 table took place on June 16^th at The Dorchester in London. The annual Profit Track 100 league table, now in its tenth year, ranks Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing profits over the last three years of companies’ latest available audited accounts. This year’s listing featured just one packaging company, with Benson Group entering the list at number 78.

Speakers included Charles Dunstone, chief executive officer of Carphone Warehouse, which featured on the very first Profit Track 100 ten years ago, and Rt Hon Ken Clarke QC MP, the Shadow Business Secretary.

The awards dinner honoured companies on the latest league table, who each received a personalised certificate. Sponsors also presented a number of special awards ranging from the award for best management team to the value creation award.

Commenting on the presentation of the award, Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group, said: “Whilst it was a great pleasure for us to receive independent recognition from such a well respected source as The Sunday Times of our successful growth during the last three years by appearing in the Profit Track 100 league table, the award came as a complete surprise. It is of course very much down to our customer service team, but we also have to recognise the hard work put in by everyone involved in Benson Group. Owners, managers, and shop floor staff all make vital contributions every single day to the success of the company.”

Whilst astute acquisitions have helped to boost the overall figures for the group, it is the strong focus on efficiency that has created the true success.

Executive Chairman, Andrew Benson, added: “What a most enjoyable evening! I am especially pleased that our strong focus on customer service has been recognised by such a valued and independent source as The Sunday Times.”

In the three years under review for the latest listing, profits at Benson Group had risen from £1.173 million to £4.355 million, giving an annual profit growth of 54.71%. The company, founded back in 1920, currently employs some 880 personnel across four production sites. The Sunday Times summarised Benson Group’s activity as supplying 5 million pieces of sustainable packaging a day.

This latest success for Benson Group follows hard-on-the-heels of the company’s triumph at the UK Packaging Awards in November of last year, where it won both Packaging Company of the Year and the Cartonboard Packaging Award in a fabulous double.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Ministerial Visit to Rhyl-based Borble

Rhyl-based self-adhesive label specialist, Borble, was visited by Welsh Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn Jones on Thursday, June 11. The company installed its second Xeikon digital label press earlier this year – the UK’s first Xeikon 3300.

The Welsh Assembly Government supported these developments with a £75,000 AIG/SIF grant for the new printing machine.  The company currently employ a total staff of 11 full time and are now in their fifth year of operation.

Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “It is good to see a company which is investing in leading edge technology, training staff in new skills and serving other businesses in the Welsh economy.  I understand the company have printed over 30,000 different designs including brand labels for food packaging, cheese producers, chemical manufacturers and the cosmetics industry.”

A new start-up business back in March 2005, Borble specialises in digital label and printed wallpaper border production (the name Borble came from an amalgamation of the words border and label, the markets that the company was designed to serve). The business has already grown past its £1.2 million turnover for 2008, and is running its two Xeikon presses on double-day shifts.

Borble Director Barry Griffiths was delighted for his company to be the subject of a ministerial visit: “It was a great pleasure for us to be able to show off our business to Mr Wyn Jones and he found the visit very interesting. In addition to the production facilities we were able to show him our recently added web-based ordering system, which has grown significantly in recent months.”

The new web-to-print based system at Borble, which can be found at the www.labelsprint.com address, provides visitors with the ability to obtain a quote or place an order in three easy steps. The password protected customer area of the site allows users to archive and manage files so that only current designs are visible. Reprints of these labels can be ordered online quickly and easily.

Some 50% of Borble’s label business is from trade accounts. “Flexo printers just cannot match digital for cost when it comes to short run work,” explains Barry Griffiths. “Because we have very little in the way of set-up costs we are always competitive where low quantities are required. Because no plates are required we can also very quickly produce a press-proof for a customer, using the exact colours and stock of the final job. Press-proofs are a tremendous advantage – the customer can see exactly how the job will look on the selected substrate.” Other key markets for the company include chemical, food, cosmetics, industrial and promotional labels.

The five-unit Xeikon 3300 features the ability to print standard four-colour process along with an opaque white, a special colour, or a security toner. It will print at up to 19.2 meters per minute, with a monthly duty cycle of up to 700,000 meters. Imaging width is up to 322mm, and the machine can print on materials from as light as 40 gsm right through to 350 gsm. The dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without coating or pre-treatment. As with the Xeikon 330, the new machine has been supplied complete with its own inline finishing station via Xeikon’s relationship with Danish equipment supplier GM.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

For more details on Borble call 01745 360159 or visit the www.labelsprint.com web site.

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First Lamination Glue Exports for Solutions

Solutions, Aylesford: lamination glue specialists

Solutions, Aylesford, Kent, an adhesive manufacturing business wholly owned by Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced details regarding the first export orders for its lamination glue product.

The water-based adhesive specifically formulated for the purposes of lamination has been gradually increasing its UK business since the creation of the company some two-and-a-half years’ ago. The weak exchange rate has recently helped to up opportunities for sales of the product into international markets. The first two export orders have recently been despatched to Brazil and to Germany. Luke Hastings, Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Changes in the currency markets have now made UK product very attractive to overseas businesses. We are currently in discussions with a number of potential distributors for our products in leading markets, but welcome further enquiries from both users and suppliers worldwide.”

Solutions is wholly focused on the provision of glue products for laminating, meaning that the company can be very responsive to urgent requirements, and even bespoke products. “We understand laminating,” explains Luke Hastings. “That means for customers that need a specific glue formulation, for work that is to be embossed for example, can place orders with us for a fast delivery. We can react quickly and positively to provide a product that meets a particular demand.”

Solutions is already believed to be the largest UK producer of lamination glue following the withdrawal from the market of Akzo Nobel and H B Fuller during 2008.

Printers, packaging specialists and international dealers seeking further information on lamination glue products from Solutions should call Tony Scott, Adhesive Technician and Plant Manager on 01622 718 862 or e-mail tony@solutionstoday.co.uk for details.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections include MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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StudioRIP Develops Screen Printing Breakthrough

UK-based independent software RIP provider StudioRIP UK Limited, Leighton Buzzard, has announced details of a new variant of its recently released Version 3.0 StudioRIP product that has been specifically designed for the screen printing sector.

Linked with this development is a European distribution agreement with Italian screen printing specialist Grafco srl. The product, engineered by the StudioRIP team, will be branded by Grafco as Xerio RIP.

The new Xerio RIP product is already being described by screen printing experts as the “missing link” that will enable screen printers to properly utilise the potential of stochastic screening.

At the heart of Xerio RIP, the StudioRIP software RIP is compatible with PostScript Level 3 and PDF 1.6, and is designed for high performance imaging tasks, making it suitable for interfacing to a wide range of computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, inkjet and laser printers.

“Our friends at Grafco in Italy – specialists in the screen printing market – saw StudioRIP in action and liked the way that the product worked. They asked if we could create a version for them specifically tailored to the needs of the screen printing market, including taking mesh frequencies into account as well as standard screen frequencies, and we have developed an OEM product for them. Xerio RIP incorporates Grafco’s screen printing knowledge with our RIP building knowledge,” said Andy Hemmings, Sales Director of StudioRIP UK.

Three versions of the Xerio RIP software will be available: START, PRO and MASTER.

Grafco, based in Treviso, Italy, is well known throughout Europe as a leading supplier of ink and equipment for silk screening onto textiles. Grafco srl will be appointing sub-dealers for the Xerio RIP product throughout Europe. Prospective UK representatives can either contact Grafco direct, via the www.grafco.it web site, or call StudioRIP directly on 01759 304 333.

Summary of StudioRIP Product:

Why Does the World Need Another RIP?

Originally designed as a low cost solution to meet the needs of the second-hand imagesetter market, StudioRIP has grown to become a highly suitable alternative to mainstream RIP products for most output requirements, including computer-to-plate, all formats of imagesetter, inkjet and laser printers. Still a cost effective product, StudioRIP also offers highly productive throughput comparable with all of the competition.

One significant advantage offered by StudioRIP over the majority of competing software RIP products is the ability to include many workflow operations within the RIP architecture. Functions such as imposition and trapping can be included within StudioRIP, rather than users having to purchase separate software packages, usually at significant extra cost. StudioRIP is also “flexo friendly” with flexographic screening, distortion, and imposition features optionally available.

One of the most exciting and unique features of the product is that it can be configured around a user’s needs, with the optional inclusion of post-RIP imposition, in-RIP trapping, ink duct control software, second order stochastic screening (hybrid AM screening included as standard), TIFF output, multiple print engine output, and digital proofing output. StudioRIP Client software can provide for remote operation of all RIP functions from any PC or Mac workstation.

StudioRIP’s “Smart Screening” offers customers the very latest in hybrid screening techniques – again, without the need to buy highly priced “extra’s”. Features of the AM screening package include user selectable screen angles, and smooth gradients via the combination of 4,096 shades of grey and low pass filtering.

StudioRIP 3.0 also includes a flexographic option, which is capable of providing 37.5 degree angles, flexo dot, dot gain, and dispro compensations. The software also provides a seamless option for flexographic sleeve production.

Pre-press experts who would like to examine and test the performance and features of StudioRIP can download a free “demo” system of Version 3.0 by visiting the www.studiorip.co.uk web site.

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MGS: Pre-Press Growth in a Recession

Darren Eliot, MD of MGS

Marlowe Graphic Services Ltd (MGS), Leighton Buzzard, the UK’s leading independent pre-press service and maintenance company, has recorded significant growth in its business during the recent recessionary months.

Darren Eliot, Managing Director of MGS, said: “We have been delighted with the additional business that has been coming our way in recent months. Whilst all suppliers have recognised that companies are shying away from making significant investments in new equipment, the flip side to that coin is that they are having to spend money on maintaining or improving their current pre-press set-up, and that’s where MGS comes in.”

The company works with customers in all sectors, including major newspaper and magazine businesses, right through to commercial print operations.

“The justification in making a £60 or £70,000 “new equipment” purchase is certainly difficult for many companies – whether that is justifying the need to a bank or to fellow directors. Upgrading existing platemaking equipment to work with a new plate technology, or adding new software to make a workflow more efficient, are significantly less expensive routes, far easier to justify, and usually highly productive.

“Pre-owned equipment, upgraded or updated by MGS, is also a popular purchase right now. We recently supplied a CtP solution to an envelope printing company that have themselves recently seen an increase in demand. We examined their current requirements and also received their thoughts regarding projected growth over the next few years. We presented them with a solution that will more than accommodate them today, but more importantly will be able to grow with them. We also demonstrated a route for them to move to a processless solution with the equipment we supplied once the plates become readily available. This solution, including an up-to-date RIP, installation and warranty was put in for less than £10k.

“People contact MGS because they know that we will not try to sell them something that they don’t need. If they want to retain their existing equipment, we can support them. If they want to upgrade their existing solution, we can offer them alternatives. If they do want a complete new systems, we can also offer impartial advice on both pre-owned and new solutions,” added Darren Eliot.

The company expects to announce the appointment of two further service technicians in the near future in order to handle the additional demand currently being experienced.

About the Marlowe Graphic Services

Marlowe Graphic Services are the UK’s premier independent pre-press specialist, providing service, parts and technical support for a wide range of graphic arts equipment. The company’s service offering is unique in that not only does it supply, integrated and service third-party equipment but it also has its own team of in-house software and hardware specialists, which means that if a solution doesn’t exist MGS will simply make it!

Customers range from multi-national magazine and newspaper publishers, to fine-art printers, book printers and general commercial print suppliers. In short, print businesses of all shapes and sizes, being looked after by MGS’s team of factory-trained engineers, covering the whole of the UK.

The MGS web site has been designed to complement the range of individual services that the company currently offers, all uniquely supported by MGS’s own staff. Customers like the MGS approach, as they are not making important purchasing decisions via a faceless computer, or even worse, an overseas call centre. They know that if they are stuck MGS has the means to “un-stick” them.

For further information on Marlowe Graphic Services visit the www.marlowe.co.uk web site, or call 0870 777 0920.

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Reflections Joins International Print Finisher Group

Luke Hastings, Managing Director of Reflections

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious International Print Finisher Group (IPFG) following its latest conference held in May 2009, which took place in Mallorca.

Membership of the International Print Finisher Group consists exclusively of specialist trade finishing companies from across the globe. Sixteen countries are represented, including members from USA, Brazil and Australia, as well as from a host of European countries. The organisation staged its first meeting in 1972 and has met regularly since then.

Predominantly membership of IPFG is limited to one company from each country, though for exceptionally busy countries, such as Germany and UK, more than one member can be invited. The group meets for a conference every two years, with meetings staged in a different member country on each occasion, with business meetings in the intervening year which are timed to coincide with Drupa and IPEX.

Luke Hastings, Managing Director of Reflections, said: “We are delighted to have been invited to become a member of the IPFG. Our initial “get-to-know-you” meeting in Mallorca was hugely beneficial, and we have already established some excellent contacts across the world. The concept of getting together with similar types of businesses from a wide range of countries means that we can all exchange ideas and product knowledge for the good of each other.”

The agenda for the Mallorca meeting including such topics as the current global economic situation; challenges posed by the current environmental focus, including a focus on more environmentally friendly product; and finishing for the digital print sector.

IPEX will provide the venue for the next business meeting of the IPFG, which the next conference, scheduled for 2011, will take place in Vienna.

Further details on the history of the International Print Finisher Group can be found at www.ipfg.org

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with three core production centres in London, Essex and Kent. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections include MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

The company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Hine Labels: Digital and Flexo Quality Match

Hine Labels Ltd, Rotherham, Yorkshire, in conjunction with Punch Graphix UK, held an open house event on Wednesday, May 20^th featuring the UK’s first Xeikon 3000 digital label press.

Under the banner “Digital and Flexo, a Perfect Match” the event focused on the compatibility of digital with traditional flexo printing. Tests produced during the open day demonstrated the ability of Hine Labels to produce identical print quality from both processes, which Bill Hine, Managing Director of Hine Labels, sees as critical in order for digital to take an ever more significant proportion of the label printing market.

“Our business comes mainly from trade customers. They generally don’t have a preference with regard to the printing process that we use. What they want is high quality, colour consistent labels in the shortest possible production time. However, we have to face the fact that run lengths are decreasing across many of our markets, and this is what tends to determine which print process we use for a given job. The further enhancements in both image quality and production speed for the Xeikon 3000 meant that it was the next logical step for us, and, in our market, this press provides the ideal digital companion to our flexo printing equipment,” said Bill Hine.

Hine Labels utilise EskoArtwork’s Backstage software to process artwork for both digital and flexo production, as well as an Esko CDI platemaker for flexo plate creation. The system allows customer files to be prepared in advance of selecting which process will produce the final job. “This means that we do not have to make a decision whether a job will be printed digitally or via flexo until the last minute,” said Bill Hine. “Certainly the quality that we can achieve with our Xeikon 3000 is a very good match to the labels produced via the flexographic process, so the decision as to how to produce a given job is down to other factors, such as run length or how quickly the customer needs the job, or a part of the job.”

Xeikon 3000 produces images at 1200 dots per inch, with four bits per spot, to ensure the highest possible colour quality, and offers an increased imaging width of 322mm, against the 307mm imaging width of the Xeikon 330 machine. All machines are based on a 330mm substrate width. Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

Commenting on the Hine Labels event, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “We were especially pleased to be able to show off Hine Labels new Xeikon 3000 to a wider audience. Visitor numbers on the day were excellent, and many label producers were particularly excited to see the match we were able to show them between digital and flexo label printing. Digital systems have made huge advances in recent years, and most traditional label printers now realise that they need to have some digital offering for their markets.”

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site. For more details on Hine Labels call 01709 369 222.

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Hi-Tech Print Solutions Company Goes Global

Tony O'Neill, Managing Director of Mediatoolbox

Bedfordshire-based Mediatoolbox, a company providing innovative software solutions for the digital printing and graphics art industries, has just signed an agreement that will give it significant global exposure – with help from UK Trade & Investment.

Tony O’Neill set up Mediatoolbox in May 2005 having spotted the potential benefits that the internet could bring to the world of digital printing.  Working with a team of software developers based in Berlin, he has created a set of browser-based applications that gives traditional digital printers the means to increase their sales while cutting their costs.

Tony explained: “I realised there was a real opportunity to harness the power of the internet by developing software solutions that would make trading easier for printers and their clients. By using our range of solutions they can give their clients a faster and more efficient service, while at the same time significantly cutting costs and – because this is all web-based – they can also radically re-think their traditional sales territory.”

Right from the start, Tony’s vision was that the company would be international. His own sales background has previously taken him all over Europe so he was well aware of the potential for trading overseas.

However, as this was his first lone business venture he still felt the need for some specialist advice in tackling international markets. One of his first ports of call was UK Trade & Investment. Having contacted them via their website, he was delighted when International Trade Adviser, Martin Keepfer got in touch. Since then Martin has worked closely with Tony, having regular review and planning meetings and providing practical help in the form of grants and finding translators.

In 2007 Tony attended a graphics art exhibition in Barcelona as a guest of Punch Graphix and was advised by UK Trade and Investment to translate his brochure into both Spanish and Catalan – which for both commercial and historical reasons was very important to the local graphic arts business community. Tony explained: “I could immediately see that this advice was absolutely spot on. Our sales prospects were impressed by our professionalism and our respect for local business ethics and traditions.”

The deal with Punch Graphix means that Mediatoolbox’s software solutions will be installed in Punch Graphix’s worldwide demonstration suite in Lier, Belgium, and will be demonstrated alongside Xeikon’s range of printing presses. Tony said: “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get us to this point but we are genuinely excited at the worldwide exposure to potential customers this deal will give us. I have a lot to thank UKTI for. They have given me a huge amount of practical help and Martin has been incredibly enthusiastic and committed throughout.”

“Mediatoolbox has been an exemplary client,” said Martin Keepfer, International Trade Adviser. “I have worked with founder Tony O’Neill since early 2006, almost from the start-up stage. By making use of the full range of UKTI services along the way, the company has now established itself in a number of foreign markets.  In particular our Market Visit Support and Tradeshow Access Programme have helped Tony exhibit his range of printing software solutions in a number of markets that otherwise may not have been economically accessible to him. “

For more information about Mediatoolbox go to www.media-toolbox.com. For more information about Punch Graphix and Xeikon go to http://www.punchgraphix.com

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First Move into Digital for Leeds-based Jade Press

Jade Press Ltd, Leeds, has made its first move into digital print production with the installation of an HP Indigo press 3500. The new system was purchased from the UK’s only authorised Business Partner for HP Indigo products, Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey.

Commenting on the decision to move into digital, Darren Shepherd, Managing Director of Jade Press, said: “It adds another dimension to our business. It was important to us, however, not to compromise on quality. Digital certainly has its advantages in terms of its ability to handle short runs, and personalised print, but often it is easy to spot a digitally produced sheet because of the quality.

“We chose the HP Indigo press because it was able to produce quality comparable to offset-litho. We have already produced a piece of promotional material for ourselves printed litho on one side and digital on the other to allow customers to see for themselves how accurately we can produce an image using either technology.

“Many businesses are reducing run lengths, and we therefore believe that there could be no better time to get into digital than right now. We also believe that it is a good time for print buyers to exploit the benefits of personalised print – something that you cannot even hope to produce via traditional print techniques.” Jade Press runs two B2-format Komori Lithrone presses for its litho printed work.

The move into digital has allowed Jade to fully explore the benefits of web-to-print, which it handles through its Tharstern system. “Some £2 million of our business is contracted work with such organisations as local councils and hotel chains. Their individual operations can now log into our system, make their own adjustments to the generic print materials that they require, and then order their own specific requirements in terms of quantity. Digital output is a huge advantage in this area, as many of the individual run lengths are small, but the jobs are required very quickly. Customers have already found this solution to be a real winner for them,” confirmed Darren Shepherd.

As part of the purchase from Digital People, the Jade Press order included Morgana finishing equipment. “The Morgana equipment was purchased to provide creasing, folding and stitching capabilities for the shorter runs typically produced by digital, but in fact we have already used the equipment for several jobs that were produced on our litho presses.”

Established in 1973, Jade Press has built a reputation for quality, reliability, honesty and integrity – all the values that a family owned business can ensure are continued to be delivered. The company works in partnership with UK and international clients, providing the best solutions for their general commercial printing requirements. Print advice is based on a wealth of experience from a dedicated team capable of delivering a wide range of solutions.

The HP Indigo press 3500 provides for printing up to seven-colours at up to 4,000 A4 full-colour pages per hour (printed two-up), or up to 16,000 single-colour A4 pages per hour (two-up). The 812 x 812 dots-per-inch resolution is suitable for the reproduction of screened images of up to 230 lines-per-inch.

Commenting on the installation for Digital People, Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, said: “Jade Press is a high-quality litho printer that can see real opportunity by expanding into the digital printing sector. With the installation of the HP Indigo press 3500 they are providing customers with the same litho quality that they have come to expect from Jade, but with the added benefits that only digital can offer, such as fast and economical short-run production, and the potential of variable data production.”

For further information on Jade Press call 0113 248 0929 or visit the www.jadeprint.com web site.

For further details about Digital People call 0845 130 1445 or visit the www.thedigitalpeople.com web site.

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Hine Labels Open House Featuring Xeikon 3000

Bill Hine with the Xeikon 3000

Hine Labels Ltd, Rotherham, Yorkshire, in conjunction with Punch Graphix UK, is to hold an open house event on Wednesday, May 20^th featuring the UK’s first Xeikon 3000 digital label press.

Under the banner “Digital and Flexo, a Perfect Match” the event will focus on the compatibility of digital with traditional flexo printing. Tests produced during the open day will include running the same job on digital and flexo in order to illustrate the similarity of the results produced.

Xeikon will be partnered at the open house by EskoArtwork and Fasson. Hine Labels utilise EskoArtwork’s Backstage software to process artwork for both digital and flexo production, as well as an Esko CDI platemaker for flexo plate creation. Leading self-adhesive label supplier Fasson will be providing materials for the event. A crucial parameter in obtaining similar results from both processes, the same label materials will be used to demonstrate both flexo and digital.

Bill Hine, Managing Director of Hine Labels, said: “Our business comes from trade customers. They generally don’t have a preference with regard to the printing process that we use. What they want is high quality, colour consistent labels in the shortest possible production time. However, we have to face the fact that run lengths are decreasing across many of our markets, and this is what tends to determine which print process we use for a given job. The further enhancements in both image quality and production speed for the Xeikon 3000 meant that it was the next logical step for us, and, in our market, this press provides the ideal digital companion to our flexo printing equipment.”

Xeikon 3000 produces images at 1200 dots per inch, with four bits per spot, to ensure the highest possible colour quality, and offers an increased imaging width of 322mm, against the 307mm imaging width of the Xeikon 330 machine. All machines are based on a 330mm substrate width.

“We had no hesitation in returning to Xeikon for our latest digital label solution. In our opinion, the company’s products lead the market for label production, and we have been delighted with the service and support that we have received from Xeikon,” added Bill Hine.

Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

Commenting on the Hine Labels event, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “We are especially pleased to be able to show off Hine Labels new machine to a wider audience. The label market has taken a significant step towards digital production in recent years, and any company in the business of label production, and not yet using digital for at least part of their production, needs to come and see the benefits offered by our Xeikon digital machinery.”

For full details of the Hine Labels / Xeikon event on May 20^th please register here: http://www.xeikon.com/hine

Alternatively, e-mail annette.malt@punchgraphix.com or call 01904 520 555.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site. For more details on Hine Labels call 01709 369 222.

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New Ryobi as X1 Growth Continues

X1, the Slough-based print and graphic design company, has announced the installation of a new Ryobi 524GX press, as well as the purchase and consolidation of Jackson Print, a Hayes-based printing company, into the business.

Following detailed discussions at board level regarding the future direction of the company, decisions were taken at X1 to significantly grow the business. The incorporation of the order book and staff of Jackson Print took place in February of this year. In addition to the £400,000 order book, X1 also purchased the company’s equipment, including a Sakurai 58cm press and a DPX4 platemaker.

“We did look closely at the possibility of moving into B2 printing, but decided to sell the Sakurai machine, along with a two-colour Ryobi, and purchase a second new Ryobi GX Series B3-format press. The new 524GX complements our existing 525GX, with both machines using the same sized plates, produced by our existing DPX2 platesetter,” explained Tim Lance, Sales Director at X1.

X1 are now 18- months in to a 24-month programme which will see a £1,000,000 investment in the development of a “state-of-the-art” single-site manufacturing plant. All departments within the company have been expanded to create some 40 to 50% of additional output capacity. This was achieved through a combination of investment in additional machinery, new processes and workflow efficiencies.

“The turnover for our last financial year was £1.6 million. Since then we have purchased the assets and goodwill of Jackson Print, whose clients and team are now happily working with X1. Our ambition over the next 18 months is to grow our business to a turnover of between £2.9 and £3.2 million through a combination of organic growth from our existing customers and the development of new business relationships,” added Tim Lance.

X1 has the ability to offer a comprehensive “one stop shop” for clients, producing a diverse range of graphic design and printing, including the production of literature, direct mail and fulfilment through the company’s single site in Slough, Berkshire.

“We were delighted to return to Apex Digital Graphics for our second Ryobi GX machine and our fourth Ryobi press in total. The last, a five colour, was purchased two years ago at Northprint, has been a superb machine for us,” said fellow director George Eckford. “Features such as the Ink Volume Setting and the Print Density Control system ensure that make-ready times are kept to the absolute minimum, meaning we are producing saleable sheets in very short time.”

Ease of operation on the Ryobi 520GX series presses is enhanced by the use of the Ryobi Printing Control System, PCS-H – which is provided as standard. Colour adjustments, dampening supply, and registration adjustments can all be made by the operator at the control desk using the touch sensitive LCD display. The operator can also input paper size and thickness via the screen to set the impression pressure and pull side guide to the optimal position.

An advanced version of Program Inking is also built into the PCS-H, automatically setting the conversion curve for each colour according to image area ratio. The Print Density Control system PDS-E uses a densitometer to measure the colour bar on a printed sheet, and feed corrective data back to the press via PCS-H for totally consistent print production. CIP3 and CIP4 data is loading into the machine from pre-press via the Ink Volume Setter software.

The maximum paper size that can be handled by the Ryobi GX Series is 520 x 375mm, whilst the machines will take sheets as small as 100 x 105mm. The press will handle sheet thicknesses from 0.04mm through to 0.6mm, and will print at up to 15,000 sheets per hour.

Commenting on the installation for Apex Digital Graphics, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director, said: “Naturally we are delighted that X1 has returned to Apex for its latest press investment. This business demonstrates that B3 is a growth area for printers, with shorter print runs being required by customers, but with quality demands remaining extremely high. The Ryobi GX Series offers printers a high quality package to meet these demands.”

For further information on X1 visit the www.x1.ltd.uk web site or call 01753 215 300.

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Reflections: Feel the Fabric

The fabric lamination from Reflections

Reflections, the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, has announced the launch of a new fabric-surfaced substrate for printers and graphic designers who are seeking something different and exciting for a special promotional campaign.

The substrate combines a card backing and a laminated fabric surface. Luke Hastings, Joint Managing Director of Reflections, said: “Unlike some previous attempts at providing a fabric-feel substrate, this product offers superb printing characteristics. This new substrate really does make a printed item stand out from the crowd, and the tactile finish means that people will really take notice.”

The product launch of the Fabric substrate has included the insertion of 10,000 sample cards into the April 9^th edition of DesignWeek magazine. The fabric-surfaced substrate can be purchased by printers exclusively from Reflections, manufactured to order and available in any sheet size.

“With print having to find new and exciting ways to differentiate itself from other communications methods, we see our fabric offering as providing a real opportunity for both graphic design agencies and printers to provide their clients with something really exciting, and very “touchy-feely”. It is the ideal way to get a piece of print noticed and retained,” added Luke Hastings.

About Reflections

Reflections the largest speciality print finisher in the south of England, with five production centres in Deptford, Charlton, Basildon, Aylesford and Lewes. The services provided by Reflections to the print trade include: laminating, overall UV varnishing, spot UV, foil blocking, die-cutting and creasing along with many other more specialised effects.

The wide range of speciality finishes available from Reflections include MicroMotion, a unique screen printing process that provides colour shifts and subtle sparkling of the image when the final print is angled by the viewer. Suitable for application to virtually any stock, MicroMotion is just one of the patented special finishes available from Reflections.

Located in London, Kent, Essex and Sussex the company provides the highest level of quality alongside a fast and reliable service to meet the needs of today’s modern print environment.

For further views of Reflections visit the www.reflections.co.uk web site, or call 0208 305 6333.

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Document Options Invests in HP Indigo for Quality

Document Options Ltd, Crawley, has made a first move into litho-like document printing with the purchase of an HP Indigo 3050 press. The new system was purchased from the UK’s only authorised Master Reseller for HP Indigo products, Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey.

The company has been a user of Xerox equipment for some 10 years, but as Managing Director Richard Entecott explains, the changing demands of the market required a higher level of print quality: “The expectations of our “blue chip” corporate customer base were moving beyond good quality copying and we needed high-end digital output of a more consistent, quality-focused nature. Xerox had recommended their 8000 product, but the output of the machine really wasn’t suitable for our needs, and it was giving us one problem after another. We visited the Digital People and ran test files on the HP Indigo product.

We were delighted with what we saw.” Print Production Manager at Document Options, Dan Patience, takes up the story: “The seven-colour HP Indigo 3050 has already started to open up new areas of business for us, and our sales team are confident of its capabilities when they are talking to customers. Using the HP technology we are now able to offer customers a wider range of stocks, including textured papers – these were never a possibility using the Xerox machines. We are able to talk to them about the accurate reproduction of corporate colours, and other spot colour requirements.

The output from the HP machine also lays flat after printing, which is a tremendous help when it comes to the finishing process. The sheets feed more accurately and therefore finishing tasks can be completed much faster.” The requirements of Document Options customers are getting ever more demanding, with requests for heavier stocks, quality solids, corporate colours, and textured materials. The company is now also receiving orders from litho print companies for digital work. “These companies are especially focused on print quality, and only the HP Indigo output is good enough for their needs,” added Dan Patience.

The HP Indigo 3050 press provides for printing up to seven-colours at up to 4,000 A4 full-colour pages per hour (printed two-up), or up to 16,000 single-colour A4 pages per hour (two-up). The press can handle materials formats up to 320 x 470mm, with a maximum weight of 350gsm. The 812 x 812 dots-per-inch resolution is suitable for the reproduction of screened images of up to 230 lines-per-inch. Commenting on the installation for Digital People, Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, said: “Document Options is typical of a company that has its roots in providing a fast and efficient copying service. Customers of such companies are looking for higher and higher print quality – for many, their expectations cannot be met by copier technology any more. I find it particularly exciting for Document Options that local litho print companies are now coming to them for their short-run requirements.”

For further information on Document Options call 01293 426 677 or visit the www.document-options.co.uk web site.

For further details about Digital People call 0845 130 1445 or visit the www.thedigitalpeople.com web site.

About Digital People (UK) Ltd

Digital People is headquartered in Chessington, Surrey. The company was founded by Jerry Widdowson, who has been involved in the provision of solutions to the printing industry for over twenty years.

In early 2001 the company purchased its first digital printing press and established a printing company. The strategy behind this venture was to learn how to install, operate and manage digital printing equipment, and to understand the business of digital printing from a customers’ perspective. The print business has since been sold as a going concern, but the knowledge gained has been retained and has proved to be an invaluable asset to the company.

Digital People now focus on the supply and maintenance of digital printing solutions, with a focus on HP Indigo digital presses, and software platforms licensed from leading vendors. Digital People also provide HP consumables and professional servicing, including maintenance contracts using the company’s own HP trained engineers.

In 2003 Jerry was joined by Tony Longhurst as FD. Tony has successfully managed all financials and growth within a number of print industry companies. In 2005 Chris Blanchard joined Digital People in order to manage the positive growth provided by the official HP Distributor and Master Reseller status.

In 2008 Bill Holmes was appointed as Managing Director with Jerry Widdowson moving to the role of Chairman. Bill joined Digital People from HP where he was responsible for sales and account management within the Indigo Division of HP, working with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions, whilst expanding new markets.

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IPEX 2010: Less than 400 days

The IPEX clock is ticking. Sunday April 12^th marked just 400 days until the show starts. Have your thoughts turned yet to a PR strategy for the event? What products or services will you introduce at the show? How will you tell potential visitors what they need to see? A full twelve month plan will help to maximise your IPEX investment. Mail Genesis Marketing now to set up an initial discussion – russ.hicks@genesis-marketing.com

A PR programme won’t just happen, and it’s unlikely to work effectively if you start things just a month or two before the show. Every exhibitor needs to begin raising its profile right now. Establish a specific area of your web site to explain to your customers how important IPEX 2010 will be to them, and keep refreshing these pages with new and ever more focused information. Promote your business via the trade press to bring new traffic to your web site. In the last quarter of 2009 you will need to start generating interest in your specific product area, and why the new introductions that you are producing for the exhibition are important to the industry.

Now more than ever potential show visitors need to be given reasons to attend. You will need to detail why they should visit your stand – how is that going to help their business? What exciting innovations will they find?

A professional PR approach is required to help your exhibit make you money. Now is the time to start making that investment.

Just a final thought: 400 days isn’t, of course, really 400 days. Take weekends away, as well as annual leave and bank holidays, and you actually have something more like 260 working days before the show begins! Time to start you promotional campaign now?

Power Consumption Tops Apex Agenda

Apex Digital Graphics, UK distributor for Ryobi presses, ECRM polyester-based computer-to-plate systems, and Screen metal-based computer-to-plate devices, staged an open house event at its Hemel Hempstead headquarters on April 1^st and 2^nd entitled “Solutions for Profit – Workshop 4”. A key topic under discussion at the event was that of power consumption.

To draw visitors’ attention to the issue, Apex utilised a large screen display to show visitors the output from NoWatt Energy Management software, which was configured to run throughout the Hemel Hempstead plant. NoWatt, a commercially available package, requires the addition of sensors to electrical distribution boards situated around the building. The particular area being focused on by the Apex team was the demonstration suite, where separate distribution boards are in use for the main B2 presses, a Ryobi 750 Series machine and a Ryobi 780E four-colour press; a separate distribution board for the coater used on the 750 Series; and one for the two B3 presses on show, a 524HE and 525GX.

Information from the sensors is fed back through to NoWatt and Apex was able to display this data regarding the power consumption of all presses. To help provide visitors with some perspective of the numbers generated, a chart comparing the power consumption of a selection of B2 presses was also on display.

“The electricity bill is a major factor in any print company’s expenditure. The Ryobi range has many positive features contributing to reduced power consumption, and we were able to use this event to visually demonstrate this aspect to visitors,” said Joint Managing Director of Apex Digital Graphics, Bob Usher. “We are urging printers to take up the “Apex Power Challenge” to not only save themselves money during the lifetime of a press, but also make an important environmental statement to their customers.”

Full comparative numbers on all makes of presses are quite difficult to obtain, as most suppliers only publicly quote the maximum power draw, which would typically occur at start-up of the machine and completion of a print run. However, the general running power consumption would typically bear some relation to this figure, making the comparisons realistic, if not fully detailed.

Comparisons discussed included the power draw of a five-colour Ryobi 750 Series B2 press of 39Kw, and a leading German manufactured press which would consume 62Kw with the same configuration. “Such significant differences can have a huge impact on the amount of money a print company pays for its electricity,” confirmed Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director at Apex Digital Graphics. “Realistic, even possibly conservative calculations suggest an annual difference in electricity bills in the region of £8,000 by running a Ryobi instead of some other B2 presses. Multiply this over the lifetime of the press and it is easy to see why this information is so important to the decision making process.

“Power costs have risen significantly in recent times and show no immediate signs of reducing by any great degree. We are trying to help printers to focus on the true cost of ownership of a machine, and an important part of that cost is the power consumed by the press to produce print,” added Mr Handforth.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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

HP Indigo 5000 for WHP Newbury

WHP Newbury (formerly known as White Horse Press, Newbury) has announced the installation of an HP Indigo 5000 digital offset press – the print company’s first move into digital sheet fed printing. The new system was purchased from the UK’s only authorised Master Reseller for HP Indigo products, Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey.

The six-colour HP Indigo 5000 provides for duplex printing with a maximum image area of 308 x 450mm on paper format of up to 320 x 475mm, in weights of substrate from 65gsm through to 350gsm. WHP Newbury has also added a range of Morgan finishing equipment to create a complete digital department.

Managing Director of WHP Newbury, Peter Arnel, said: “Recessions lead to changes in buying habits. Companies re-think how they buy, and that is as relevant to print buying as anything else. We felt that we needed to be in the digital market place in order to cope with these changes. In fact, I believe that all printers need to be in the digital print arena.

“With regard to our decision to buy HP Indigo printing technology, you have to listen to clients. When you talk digital printing with customers, those that have any understanding of the market at all will tell you that HP Indigo provides the quality that they need. If you then go and buy something else, you are going to have a very difficult job in convincing the customer that you are right and they are wrong! It’s as simple as that really.”

Traditionally a B2 offset-litho printer, WHP Newbury has widened its print offering this year to include both digital print and B1 offset-litho with the purchase of a Heidelberg SM102.

“Our aim is to serve the general commercial market. We need to cater for all of the needs of that market, which means being able to produce longer runs economically via B1, and short-runs quickly and effectively, that is what the HP Indigo 5000 will do for us,” said Peter Arnel.

The HP Indigo is already performing these duties to the standard required, with the machine making money in its first month of operation. Also included within the package from Digital People was the “Click For Print” web-to-print solution.

Print quality standards are always a strong focus at WHP Newbury, and the company has been busy running its ISO 12647-2 tests on the new digital press. The standard is already in place for the company’s litho and proofing output. Early tests regarding digital colour quality have provided very positive results, with scores in area of 97 to 98% – as good as the litho tests. “We are running 175 line screens on the HP Indigo and are delighted with the quality of the output,” added Peter Arnel. “We have already used the digital machine for the production of a test marketing job – a short production run allowing the customer to test market reaction, prior to committing to a longer litho run. The HP Indigo is perfect for that type of work.”

Commenting on the installation for Digital People, Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, said: “Naturally we are delighted to be working with a printer with such a strong reputation for quality as WHP Newbury. Peter, through his work with the BPIF Technical Committee, has been very much at the forefront of the move to colour standards in the industry, and it has been educational for our team to be involved with a company with such high quality standards. Peter’s selection of the HP Indigo 5000 as the digital printing solution for WHP Newbury is something that other printers will take note of.”

About Digital People (UK) Ltd

Digital People is headquartered in Chessington, Surrey. The company was founded by Jerry Widdowson, who has been involved in the provision of solutions to the printing industry for over twenty years.

In early 2001 the company purchased its first digital printing press and established a printing company. The strategy behind this venture was to learn how to install, operate and manage digital printing equipment, and to understand the business of digital printing from a customers’ perspective. The print business has since been sold as a going concern, but the knowledge gained has been retained and has proved to be an invaluable asset to the company.

Digital People now focus on the supply and maintenance of digital printing solutions, with a focus on HP Indigo digital presses, and software platforms licensed from leading vendors. Digital People also provide HP consumables and professional servicing, including maintenance contracts using the company’s own HP trained engineers.

In 2003 Jerry was joined by Tony Longhurst as FD. Tony has successfully managed all financials and growth within a number of print industry companies. In 2005 Chris Blanchard joined Digital People in order to manage the positive growth provided by the official HP Distributor and Master Reseller status. In 2008 Bill Holmes was appointed as Managing Director with Jerry Widdowson moving to the role of Chairman.

Bill joined Digital People from HP where he was responsible for sales and account management within the Indigo Division of HP, working with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions, whilst expanding new markets.

ENDS

Burgopak Success with Help from Medica

Medica Packaging, Crewe, Benson Group’s 100% pharmaceutical business, has revealed details of its work with Burgopak, the company that specialises in the differentiation of pharmaceutical products in a highly competitive market.

The pharmaceutical packaging industry has been tasked with finding the right balance between usage, senior-friendly accessibility and child-resistance. Burgopak’s Pharma Series of packaging presents an impressive solution: the single- and double-blister packs slide out to reveal both the blister and the attached patient information leaflet.

Burgopak worked closely with Medica Packaging in the creation of sample packages for the US market. The sample packs were created for testing by Perritt Laboratories to establish that the Burgopak solutions met the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s requirements for child resistence and senior accessibility.

Commenting on the contribution of Medica Packaging, Mark Symonds, Burgopak, said: “Medica were particularly helpful in assisting us with the selection of the right board to use for this carton. The card wrap needed to be hard wearing and tear resistant, but still offer the right print characteristics and weight. The creation of the packs included some 12 months of testing and evaluation prior to submission to Perritt Laboratories.”

Burgopak successfully achieved the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s F=1 standard for child-resistant effectiveness and senior friendly standard.  This is in conformity with US regulatory standards for poison prevention packaging.  The latest addition to Burgopak’s Pharma Series achieved the F=1 standard with impressive results (child-resistant effectiveness at 98%, and senior adult use effectiveness at a pass rate at 95%).  Named, Burgopak continues to advance the technology of pharmaceutical compliance packaging with its compelling designs.

Patient compliance is one of the most hotly discussed topics in the pharmaceutical industry today and represents a challenge for healthcare providers and manufacturers alike.  Burgopak’s sliding packs ensures that all compliance and safety information remains conveniently attached to the medicine at all times, whilst also being portable and easy to use.

Already in use in the UK with Bayer’s Rennie® ICE “Pocket Pack” line of over-the-counter antacids, Burgopak’s sliding package designs have received numerous accolades, including the “Compliance Package of the Year” (US Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council) in 2007 and “Best Compliance Package” at Pharmapack in 2008.  Burgopak currently offers single-blister, double-blister and senior-friendly designs that can be customized to accommodate nearly any pill, blister or leaflet size.

Burgopak’s recent partnership with RxPak, a subsidiary of McKesson Corporation, will bring its pioneering pharmaceutical packaging style to the American market in 2010.  Fully automated production on state-of-the-art Bosch Sigpack machinery makes the Burgopak design solution a cost-effective, reliable and entirely customizable unit dose package.

The flexibility of the package also allows the incorporation of patient loyalty or reward cards, and its compact size ensures it is ideally suitable for travel and on-the-go use.  The pack’s high structural integrity extends its lifespan and ensures the patient retains the entire pack intact at all times.

Commenting on the success of the package, Sarah Serlenga, Sales Manager at Medica Packaging, said: “We have been working with Burgopak for some time, and it was a pleasure to be involved in this challenging project. Child-resistant pharmaceutical packs are a hot industry topic, and so it was good for Medica to be involved in the creation of this impressive solution. We are, of course, delighted with the finished product, and also with the news that the pack has passed close examination by the appropriate US regulatory bodies.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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UK First for Xeikon at Hine Labels

Hine Labels Ltd, Rotherham, Yorkshire, has announced details of a decision to upgrade its existing Xeikon label press to a new Xeikon 3000 machine. The installation will be the first Xeikon 3000 digital label press in the UK, following the launch of the machine in September 2008. Xeikon 3000 has been designed as a counterpart to the Xeikon 3300 label press, and contains many of the same features as its “bigger brother”.

Bill Hine, Managing Director of Hine Labels, said: “Our original Xeikon 330, installed at the end of 2007, allowed us a good insight into the digital labels market, providing us with the opportunity to talk digital with our existing customers, and to work our way through the whole of the digital production cycle – which is, of course, quite different to our traditional flexographic business. The further enhancements in both image quality and production speed for the Xeikon 3000 meant that it was the next logical step for us.”

Xeikon 3000 produces images at 1200 dots per inch, with four bits per spot, to ensure the highest possible colour quality, and offers an increased imaging width of 322mm, against the 307mm imaging width of the Xeikon 330 machine. All machines are based on a 330mm substrate width.

“Our business comes from trade customers. They generally don’t have a preference with regard to the printing process that we use. What they want is high quality, colour consistent labels in the shortest possible production time. We have to face the fact that run lengths are decreasing across many of our markets, and this is what tends to determine which print process we use for a given job.

“We had no hesitation in returning to Xeikon for our latest digital label solution. In our opinion, the company’s products lead the market for label production, and we have been delighted with the service and support that we have received from Xeikon.”

Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The environmentally friendly dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.

“Xeikon 3000 also offers an immediate upgrade path when digital volume requirements increase,” added Bill Hine, referring to the ability to enhance the machines capabilities up to those of the Xeikon 3300 label press.

With regard to the markets for digitally produced labels, Bill Hine said: “It has certainly enabled us to open new doors with existing customers. The ability to economically produce shorter runs has a strong appeal in many market sectors, and we have also become involved in a number of test marketing programmes – an ideal task for digital production, as we can create any number of label variants within a short space of time.”

Commenting on the new Hine Labels purchase, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “We are delighted to be able to enhance the label production system at Hine Labels to the latest specifications of the Xeikon 3000. With regard to image quality, Xeikon 3000 can produce 1200 dpi at four bits per spot, which raises the bar in terms of high quality digital label production. We believe that this will ensure that Hine Labels can seamlessly transfer work between label printing processes.”

Hine Labels, in conjunction with Xeikon, expect to hold an open day featuring its new digital label press in during May 2009. Full details to be released shortly.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

For more details on Hine Labels call 01709 369 222.

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P&O Largest Cruise Ship Equipped with HP Indigo

Ventura, P&O Cruises’ new super-liner and now the largest cruise ship in the fleet, has been equipped with full on-board printing capabilities with an HP Indigo 1050 machine, supplied by Digital People, Chessington, Surrey. The digital press will be used to produce a wide range of printed products including menus, schedules, welcome packs, daily newspapers and marketing collateral on a daily basis.

In addition to the installation of its new HP Indigo 1050, P&O Cruises also purchased DirectSmile software to personalise its printed items. It has been able to use this combination of technologies to produce customised and personalised print items using the data from the ship’s passenger list.

“We wanted to improve the quality of our printed on-board communications for our customers, so we invested in an HP Indigo press,” said Steven Spilsbury, fleet marketing and communications manager, P&O Cruises. “At P&O Cruises, we pride ourselves on being attentive to our customers’ requirements. Our new press and personalisation software enables us to produce high-quality print that is relevant to the reader and accurately reflects our brand values.”

The press was installed in Italy in a custom built pressroom whilst the ship was being constructed. Digital People used its experience gained after installing an HP Indigo press on-board sister company Ocean Village’s cruise ship, Ocean Village 2, to overcome the challenges of installing a press on a cruise ship. Digital People ensured that the correct power requirements were fitted in the new pressroom and even dismantled the press on land in order for it to fit through the liner’s one-metre wide doors and re-built the press on board Ventura.

“Digital People were excellent and handled the installation brilliantly. They were very enthusiastic and worked hard to ensure that the installation ran smoothly,” said Spilsbury.

Since its installation, the HP Indigo press has printed over 100,000 impressions per month for the ship’s passengers, and it is vital that its HP Indigo 1050 produces the highest quality printed items at all times.

Chris Blanchard, Director, Digital People, said: “We work very closely with P&O Cruises to ensure that its HP Indigo press is maintained to high standards. We provided operator and engineering training at our headquarters in Chessington, Surrey, to maximise uptime and keep the press running efficiently. We also provide support to P&O Cruises whilst the ship is in port in the UK and in the Caribbean. Additionally remote support facilities are in place so we can diagnose and handle any issues that may arise whilst the ship is at sea.”

Steven Spilsbury, concluded, “We have been very happy with our new HP Indigo press 1050, which is able to colour match the P&O Cruises’ logo perfectly. Our customers have noticed the difference and we have received some very positive feedback about our digitally printed items.”

About Ventura

Ventura, the largest member of the P&O fleet, incorporates 19 decks, all overflowing with stylish features and innovative facilities. Cosmopolitan to the core, Ventura has taken everything P&O Cruises are renowned for – quality, choice, attention to detail, seamless service, fine-dining – but added her own unique twist.

The menus are still as mouth-watering, but there’s the opportunity to dine in Marco Pierre White’s first restaurant at sea. Artwork still adorns the walls, but there are over 7,000 specially commissioned pieces to admire. The theatre shows are still as spectacular, but you’ll also find tribute acts, comedians, pianists, live bands and classical recitals on board. And above all, the P&O Cruises unfaltering dedication to offering the ultimate holiday experience still stands strong.

About Digital People (UK) Ltd

Digital People is headquartered in Chessington, Surrey. The company was founded by Jerry Widdowson, who has been involved in the provision of solutions to the printing industry for over twenty years.

In early 2001 the company purchased its first digital printing press and established a printing company. The strategy behind this venture was to learn how to install, operate and manage digital printing equipment, and to understand the business of digital printing from a customers’ perspective. The print business has since been sold as a going concern, but the knowledge gained has been retained and has proved to be an invaluable asset to the company.

Digital People now focus on the supply and maintenance of digital printing solutions, with a focus on HP Indigo digital presses, and software platforms licensed from leading vendors. Digital People also provide HP consumables and professional servicing, including maintenance contracts using the company’s own HP trained engineers.

In 2003 Jerry was joined by Tony Longhurst as FD. Tony has successfully managed all financials and growth within a number of print industry companies. In 2005 Chris Blanchard joined Digital People in order to manage the positive growth provided by the official HP Distributor and Master Reseller status. In 2008 Bill Holmes was appointed as Managing Director with Jerry Widdowson moving to the role of Chairman.

Bill joined Digital People from HP where he was responsible for sales and account management within the Indigo Division of HP, working with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions, whilst expanding new markets.

ENDS

NXP Europe Turns To HP Indigo 3050 for Quality

NXP Europe Limited, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has announced details of its decision to install an HP Indigo 3050 press, adding further digital capacity to the business, which also currently runs a Xerox 6060. The new system was purchased from the UK’s only authorised Master Reseller for HP Indigo products, Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey.

NXP Europe has been using the Xerox 6060 machine since replacing a NexPress machine that was not performing to the expected cost-per-copy levels. Commenting on his latest purchase decision, Peter Doyle, Managing Director, NXP Europe, said: “We needed to add extra digital capacity. Having discussed our situation with some of our existing customers, we were interested to find that they had a strong preference for HP Indigo print quality. Some even suggested that they would be happy to provide us with more work if we moved to an HP Indigo machine.

“We went along to Digital People in Chessington to see a machine in action and were immediately impressed by both the quality and performance of the machine. Since the machine has been installed we have been delighted with the reliability of the HP Indigo, and our productivity has trebled at least. Our previous experiences with digital machines was that they were terribly unreliable, and that had been a major cause for concern for us. When you are offering customers’ fast turnaround times, you have to be able to keep your promises!

“We have also been delighted with the variety of substrates that we have been able to print on with the new machine. Not only will the HP Indigo handle 350gsm materials, but it will do so at the same speed as thinner papers,” added Peter Doyle. “Our other machine slows down significantly if we need to print on heavier stocks, or with heavy toner coverage. The HP Indigo just keeps on printing!

“Once we had made the decision to purchase an HP Indigo press, we were confident that we would receive excellent service and advice from Digital People, as we had spoken with a number of the company’s existing customers. They have certainly met and even surpassed our expectations.

“Print quality is critical to our business and, using the HP Indigo 3050, we can now offer “litho-quality” digital print to our clients. An upgrade to our online systems will take place over the next few months to accommodate the expected increase in business.”

NXP Europe, a 100% digital print producer, prints for its own clients as well as offering a trade service to other print businesses.

The company has been involved with web-to-print applications to help drive demand for more than five years. This impressive use of technology includes a bespoke application for managing and printing aircraft safety manuals for a high profile UK airline. Given the company’s expertise in web-to-print applications, NXP Europe has agreed to become Digital People’s test partner for its new “Click for Print” online service. This product is free to set-up for the HP Indigo user community – see www.thedigitalpeople.com for the latest information on “Click for Print”.

Chris Blanchard, Director, Digital People, said: “We are delighted to be providing NXP Europe with the quality of digital print output demanded by the company’s customers. The HP Indigo 3050 is the ideal solution for this company, given the high demands placed on it with regard to reliability, turnaround, and litho-like quality.

“We have already forged a close relationship with NXP, and have gained a good understand of their business requirements. We are delighted to be able to work with them as a test site for new online and variable data solutions, and look forward to assisting with any future investments made through Digital People.”

For further information on NXP Europe call 01892 512 401 or visit the www.nxpeurope.com web site.

Island Scan Installs First Xeikon 5000 in Guernsey

Island Scan Ltd, Guernsey’s leading digital printing specialist, has announced details regarding the purchase of a Xeikon 5000 digital colour press, which will replace one of the company’s two current Xeikon machines, a DCP50. This latest investment will provide for significant efficiencies in print production, making the business even more competitive, and decreasing turnaround times even further.

Currently celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of the company, Island Scan’s André Digard, commented on the new addition: “We had concerns regarding falling behind with our existing front-end technology, and were speaking with Xeikon about replacing our unit with an X-800 front-end, but then we looked at the potential of the Xeikon 5000 and were very impressed by the range of other enhancements that it would bring to the business.

“The 5000 is significantly faster than our existing machines, which means that we can be more competitive on pricing; the fifth colour unit means that we can provide better solutions for our corporate customers; and the increased stock range that can be printed on the Xeikon 5000, including thicknesses of substrate up to 350gsm, will undoubtedly open up new business opportunities.”

The new machine will join an existing Xeikon 500, a collection of large format print equipment, and ink-jet printing devices at the all digital Island Scan. The new addition, the Xeikon 5000, provides the ability to produce up to 4.2 million pages per month.

Island Scan prints a wide range of general commercial work on its equipment for both blue-chip and local customers, including work for the island’s tourist industry. A fortnightly publication for the residents of nearby Alderney entails a 1,000 copy print run of some 56 pages.

Commenting on the order for Xeikon supplier Punch Graphix UK, Managing Director Chris Matthews, said: “Firstly, congratulations to the team at Island Scan on the 20^th anniversary of the company. We are always delighted to be able to take an existing Xeikon user up to the next level of digital print production. We are convinced that the capabilities of the Xeikon 5000, particularly when used in tandem with the company’s existing Xeikon 500, will give Island Scan a formidable printing capability.”

Xeikon 5000

The Xeikon 5000 has all the features that have become Xeikon’s trademark: true One-Pass-Duplex™, high-quality digital imagine, a substrate width of 500 mm combined with virtually unlimited sheet length, and the capability to print onto a wide variety of substrates.

The Xeikon 5000 is integrated its own digital front-end, the X-800, which delivers an impressive toolbox enabling faster and better integration of applications and equipment into a seamless workflow thanks to the implementation of open standards. X-800 processes PostScript, PDF, PPML and PPML/VDX files at high speed and is also designed to support JDF-based digital printing job tickets.

Being web-fed, the Xeikon 5000 is intrinsically fast: it can print multi-page documents at a speed of 7,800 full-colour pages per hour (130 A4 pages per minute).

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

For more details on Island Scan call 01481 259 188 or visit the www.islandscan.com web site. In addition, a range of digital print products can be purchased on-line via the www.digpics.co.uk web site.

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Investment Aids Consolidation at BJ’s Print & Design

BJ’s Print & Design Ltd, Stamford, Lincolnshire, has announced news of an investment in a Ryobi 784E four-colour B2-format press. The “small-footprint” press has enabled the business to consolidate its operations into one unit, having previously produced work from two units on the Gwash Way Industrial Estate. The press was purchased from UK Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics.

Owner and Managing Director of BJ’s Print & Design, Robert Sandall, takes up the story: “We were using one unit for our design and pre-press work, and a second unit for printing and finishing. Moving all production into the one unit had been on our minds for some time, but it just wasn’t physically possible with the Heidelberg MO four-colour press that we were using.

“The idea of the “compact” press had been brought to our attention by Apex and other press suppliers at the last IPEX show, and that approach seemed to offer a solution for us. Having more recently taken a closer look at the Ryobi, as well as similar products from Heidelberg and Komori, we sat down and did our calculations. With the savings that we could make by moving out of our second unit, plus the retirement of one of our team, we calculated that we could actually purchase the new press with virtually no increase in overheads. Thankfully we also have a very good relationship with our local bank manager, which helped to secure the funding for the deal.

“Apex were able to give us a highly competitive deal on a two-year old 784E press, and traded back our MO. They have been a great supplier to work with at every level – from senior management to the installation team, technicians and trainers.”

Commenting on the capabilities of the new press, Robert Sandall added: “The new machine brings with it the technical advances that have come to the printing press in recent years, including a faster running speed and significantly reduced make-ready times. Although our operators are still in training at the moment, we are already seeing great strides forward in the time it takes to start printing good sheets.”

BJ’s Print & Design Ltd handles a wide range of commercial work, including magazine, brochure and leaflet production, from graphic design through to finishing. The company also runs a Xerox machine for short-run digital print work.

Commenting on the installation for Apex Digital Graphics, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director, said: “The installation at BJ’s Print & Design emphasises again the benefits offered by the Ryobi 784E machine. The small footprint has enabled the company to save on the rental costs of a second business unit, and as a result become more competitive in the market with an up-to-date press. Whilst the compact Ryobi 784E is small in terms of footprint, it is still large in terms of features.”

For further information on BJ’s Print & Design Ltd call 01780 757 676.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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

MWL Print Group Upgrades to HP Indigo 3050 Press

MWL Print Group, South Wales, has announced the installation of an HP Indigo 3050 digital offset press, further increasing the print service provider’s digital printing capacity. The new system was purchased from the UK’s only authorised Master Reseller for HP Indigo products, Digital People UK Ltd, Chessington, Surrey.

MWL were early adopters of HP technology and, until recently, operated two original Series 1 HP Indigo presses. Digital People have upgraded one of the original machines for a new HP 3050 offset digital press to further improve quality and production capacity. As with all Indigo solutions the variable data capabilities have been upgraded to incorporate the new HP Smartstream Designer software.

“Digital People is an extremely professional supplier, and was able to ensure business continuity when replacing the original Indigo press,” said Kelli Johnson, General Manager, MWL Digital. “We were confident that we would receive excellent service from Digital People, as our two existing Indigo machines were on service contract with them. We thought we were advanced users of the Indigo technology but received a new training package tailored for the new press. This was conducted at our premises, on our new press, avoiding unnecessary costs in sending operators away from the business.

“Print quality is critical to our company and, using the HP Indigo 3050, we can now offer litho quality digital print to our clients. MWL is proud to meet the stringent ISO 9001 (2000) quality standard, which means that our clients can rest assured with regard to the quality coming off the Indigo and wider production cycle.

“As an environmentally aware company we are not just about profit margins. MWL is registered to the environmental management standard ISO 14001, and we have understood the environmental benefits of using HP Indigo digital printing solutions,” said Kelli Johnson.

MWL operates three subsidiaries from its South Wales base each of them with their own area of expertise.

MWL Litho: This division produces customers’ sheet fed litho requirements. B1 and B2 printing presses (2 – 5 colours) coupled with state-of-the-art pre-press and finishing departments facilitate the production of a wide range of publications.

MWL Digital: This company specialises in digital printing which is ideal for the cost-effective production of short run work up to or around the 1,000 copies mark, including books, brochures, posters and manuals.

MWL Large Format: MWL Large Format provides an exhibition and display service. It has large format digital printing equipment which can print up to 1500mm wide by virtually any length.

Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, Digital People, said: “Working with an existing client to improve quality and capacity is always an exciting prospect for Digital People. MWL is one of the most prestigious print service providers in Wales and a great business for us to partner with. We look forward to assisting with any future investments made through Digital People.”

For further information on MWL Print Group call 01495 750 033 or visit the www.mwl.co.uk web site.

About Digital People (UK) Ltd

Digital People is headquartered in Chessington, Surrey. The company was founded by Jerry Widdowson, who has been involved in the provision of solutions to the printing industry for over twenty years.

In early 2001 the company purchased its first digital printing press and established a printing company. The strategy behind this venture was to learn how to install, operate and manage digital printing equipment, and to understand the business of digital printing from a customers’ perspective. The print business has since been sold as a going concern, but the knowledge gained has been retained and has proved to be an invaluable asset to the company.

Digital People now focus on the supply and maintenance of digital printing solutions, with a focus on HP Indigo digital presses, and software platforms licensed from leading vendors. Digital People also provide HP consumables and professional servicing, including maintenance contracts using the company’s own HP trained engineers.

In 2003 Jerry was joined by Tony Longhurst as FD. Tony has successfully managed all financials and growth within a number of print industry companies. In 2005 Chris Blanchard joined Digital People in order to manage the positive growth provided by the official HP Distributor and Master Reseller status. In 2008 Bill Holmes was appointed as Managing Director with Jerry Widdowson moving to the role of Chairman.

Bill joined Digital People from HP where he was responsible for sales and account management within the Indigo Division of HP, working with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions, whilst expanding new markets.

ENDS

David Watson Appointed by Digital People

Digital People (UK) Ltd, Chessington, Surrey, the UK’s only authorised Master Reseller for HP Indigo digital colour presses, has announced the appointment of David Watson to the position of Business Manager in the North of the UK.

David joins Digital People from Punch Graphix where he was responsible for sales and account management for the North of the UK and Ireland. Based in Lancashire, David’s key focus will be working closely with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions and aid profitable growth.

David gained extensive industry knowledge with Kodak Versamark, being responsible for developing solutions within the direct mail, data centre and trans-promo markets.

Previously, David was Sales Director for Scitex Vision (now an HP business) and responsible for the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian direct and reseller business units. Scitex Vision was a market leader in wide and super-wide format printers for signage and industrial applications, such as billboards, banners, street advertising and packaging.

David joined the industry during the 1980’s and trained as a lithographer before later moving to a client facing, account management role with Heidelberg UK.

Jerry Widdowson, Chairman, Digital People, said: “Having known David from both his time with Punch Graphix and Scitex Vision, it was clear he would add significant experience to the business, and help focus our own strategy for the North of the country. David’s understanding of the digital marketplace is first class, having gained experience in all digital formats. The directors are confident that his appointment will strengthen our business”.

About Digital People (UK) Ltd

Digital People is headquartered in Chessington, Surrey. The company was founded by Jerry Widdowson, who has been involved in the provision of solutions to the printing industry for over twenty years.

In early 2001 the company purchased its first digital printing press and established a printing company. The strategy behind this venture was to learn how to install, operate and manage digital printing equipment, and to understand the business of digital printing from a customers’ perspective. The print business has since been sold as a going concern, but the knowledge gained has been retained and has proved to be an invaluable asset to the company.

Digital People now focus on the supply and maintenance of digital printing solutions, with a focus on HP Indigo digital presses, and software platforms licensed from leading vendors. Digital People also provide HP consumables and professional servicing, including maintenance contracts using the company’s own HP trained engineers.

In 2003 Jerry was joined by Tony Longhurst as FD. Tony has successfully managed all financials and growth within a number of print industry companies. In 2005 Chris Blanchard joined Digital People in order to manage the positive growth provided by the official HP Distributor and Master Reseller status. In 2008 Bill Holmes was appointed as Managing Director with Jerry Widdowson moving to the role of Chairman.

Bill joined Digital People from HP where he was responsible for sales and account management within the Indigo Division of HP, working with clients to develop best-in-class digital press solutions, whilst expanding new markets.

ENDS

“ISO 12647 Proficient Printer” Standard for Benson Box

Benson Group, headquartered in Bardon, Leicestershire, the UK Packaging Company of the Year, has announced details of its newly acquired “ISO 12647 Proficient Printer” status, as awarded by colour specialists Mellow Colour, for its Benson Box carton printing operation.

Benson Box, Bardon, specialises in the production of folding cartons for the food industry. Work on the colour standard is now underway at the three other Benson Group sites at Gateshead, Newcastle, and Crewe, the group’s 100% pharmaceutical plant.

“Colour standards are a hot topic in the industry at the moment, and we are therefore delighted to become the first food-focused packaging specialist to have achieved the status of Proficient Printer in the UK,” said Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group. “Alan Dresch of Mellow Colour and our production team at Bardon have put in a lot of work during the last six months to make this happen. I believe that this will be a very welcome addition to our capabilities, and something that will help to make our customers lives just that little bit easier.

“Whilst we have previously focused on our own internal quality standards, this internationally recognised standard means that we can offer customers the additional assurance that our printing will match that of other ISO 12647 printers supplying other elements of a campaign,” added Mark Kerridge. “We also anticipate being able to take the standard into customers offices, where they are often producing proofs. Once customer confidence has been established, proofs produced to ISO 12647 and then run at Benson Group under the same standards will significantly reduce the need for customers to pass press proofs.”

The site runs five B1-format litho presses and checks on the set-up of all of these machines needed to be carried out in order to ensure that they remained in balance and were all able to print consistent and repeatable results. Test jobs were run on the presses and measurements taken for dot gain and density. Following analysis and interpretation of the printed results any adjustments required to match the standard were then performed at the RIP of the company’s platesetter.

Commenting on his company’s work at the Bardon site, Alan Dresch of Mellow Colour, said: “Benson Group certainly has the right culture to be able to adapt to this process. Technical expertise, teamwork and commitment to colour quality at all levels are the keys to success when introducing a colour quality system of this type. The Benson Group colour team are fortunate to have those attributes in abundance, and they are already seeing the benefits of their work, with improved customer satisfaction and reductions in make-ready times and wastage.”

ISO 12647 is the standard upon which most serious printing specifications are based. Target gradation, ink colour, trapping, grey balance and dot gain numbers in the specification are based on hundreds of high quality print samples gathered and analysed from around the globe by the ISO TC 130 Committee.

About Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

ENDS

“Solutions for Profit 4”: Power Consumption Tops Agenda

Apex Digital Graphics, UK distributor for Ryobi presses, ECRM polyester-based computer-to-plate systems, and Screen metal-based computer-to-plate devices, has announced that it will stage an event at its Hemel Hempstead headquarters on April 1^st and 2^nd. As well as the expanded version of its open house format, which will include a wide range of other equipment suppliers, Apex will use the event, which will be promoted under the “Solutions for Profit – Workshop 4” banner, to focus on the power consumption benefits offered by the range of Ryobi presses.

“The electricity bill is a major factor in any print company’s expenditure. The Ryobi range has many positive things to contribute on the topic of power consumption, and we will use this event to visually demonstrate this to visitors,” said Joint Managing Director of Apex Digital Graphics, Bob Usher. Apex will demonstrate Ryobi machinery with a PC linked into the electrical system, with software showing the power being used by the press. “We believe that many printers are paying far too much to run their machines. We are urging them to take up the “Apex Power Challenge” to not only save themselves money during the lifetime of a press, but also make an important “green” statement to their customers.”

In addition to its own wide range of both new and used Ryobi presses, and ECRM and Screen computer-to-plate equipment, Apex will also exhibit digital print equipment from Danwood, finishing equipment from Morgana, MIS product from Tharstern, and products from EFI (workflow), Fujifilm (processless plates), Sharp (digital colour copiers), Technotrans (water management systems), Baldwin (drying systems), Sun Chemical (inks), Konica Minolta (digital colour copiers), PCO (printing chemistry), Creo (workflow), DirectSmile (personalisation software), IDS (mail sort software) and Eltosch (drying systems). A section within the event will also give focus to environmental issues.

“By opening our doors to a wide range of fellow suppliers we believe that we can offer our customers and prospects an event that is even more relevant to their businesses,” said Bernard Parker, Joint Managing Director of Apex. “We have extended invitations to fellow suppliers with complimentary products to our range of Smart Presses and CtP products, and together we will illustrate solutions for the different market segments between conventional offset and digital applications.”

“The concept of “Solutions for Profit” is all about being able to show integrated solutions, and to demonstrate how equipment suppliers can work together to provide an effective system for the printer,” added Mr Usher.

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, the Screen Micra 55 metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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

BrailleCAM: Accurate Measurement for Braille Dots

Troika Systems Limited, Highworth, a UK company at the forefront of innovative development for print-based quality control products, has announced the release of BrailleCAM, a device designed to accurately measure Braille dots.

The BrailleCAM project started following discussions with packaging equipment specialist Chesapeake Packaging Systems. Part of EU legislation already requires the incorporation of Braille information on all new drug packaging, and proposed directives will include detailed specifications for the height of the Braille dot.

“Measurement of Braille dot height is an important issue to producers of packaging for consumer products, and their customers,” said Andrew Degnan, Head of Packaging Systems at Chesapeake. “Our customers need to ensure that we, and other suppliers, are providing Braille images that comply with the directive. The current technology to measure Braille is limited – typically in the form of a micrometer. Naturally, such rudimentary technology has measurement limitations that require a large number of samples to provide the confidence levels required. BrailleCAM, based on Troika’s technology for measuring the dot on a flexographic plate, is a far more sophisticated tool. It is both precise and consistent, and provides an array of further information to fine tune the Braille process. At last we have a technique that gives the appropriate level of confidence, and as a result will minimise inspection time.”

Following the first public showing of BrailleCAM on the Chesapeake Packaging Systems stand at the recent Packtech (easyFairs) exhibition at the NEC, Andrew Degnan added: “BrailleCAM provides clear 3D images of the Braille dot and tooling. It provides the dot height, profile plot, alignment, symmetry and diameter. Meeting the proposed EU directives on Braille height just became a scientific process.”

The exhibition offered pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to see BrailleCAM in action, and the reception was very enthusiastic, with major players already showing considerable interest.

BrailleCAM is a hand held, portable camera specifically designed to measure and view Braille dots with unrivalled precision and clarity. The camera utilises a PC link in order to show 3D images of a dot using colour representation, allowing the user to view dot form and inspect for surface cracking. The system also provides the tools necessary for highly detailed measurement and recording of dot values. BrailleCAM can measure male and female embossing tools as well as final output.

When measuring finished product, the auto-focus feature of the camera automatically finds the top surface. It then takes a series of images, each with a different focus depth, down to the ground level of the substrate. Software removes all un-sharp parts of each image and combines the levels into a rendered 3D grid model. This can be analysed via the PC and rotated in any direction.

Phil Hall, Managing Director of Troika Systems, added: “Following our initial discussions with Chesapeake, we could clearly understand the need in the market, and were easily able to see how our existing technology could be adapted to provide pharmaceutical packaging specialists with the detailed information that they needed regarding the Braille dot. Compared to a 1% dot on a flexo plate, these dots are large!

“The product is already generating significant interest among the pharmaceutical companies themselves, as well as the packaging producers. The pharmaceutical sector is the first and obvious outlet for BrailleCAM due to the demand for standards and accuracy within the industry. However, with the ability to measure the embossing tools prior to long run production, we are also looking at opportunities in a wide variety of other markets where a similar profile inspection and measurement technology will offer an advantage.”

For further information on Troika Systems quality control products visit the www.troika-systems.com web site.

ENDS

FSC Stock Management for DigiQuote Product

TimeHarvest Limited, the award-winning software development company specialising in digital print, has announced details of a new FSC Stock Management option for its DigiQuote digital MIS product. London-based customer Face Creative worked closely with TimeHarvest in the development of this option. Face has now also announced that it has been accredited for both FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody.

Face Creative, one of London’s leading digital print specialists, running both Xeikon and Indigo presses, has at the same time been able to detail its recently awarded ISO 9001 certification. “The FSC Stock Management option means that TimeHarvest is able to add all of the necessary FSC/PEFC Chain of Custody information to a quote, invoice and delivery note, taking data fed into the system as paper is booked to our building,” said Face Creative Managing Director Bill Harding.

The recent official audit undertaken at Face Creative regarding the application to become FSC/PEFC accredited praised both Face and the TimeHarvest system for the outstanding way that the system handled the FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody requirements. Geoff Stephens, Managing Director of TimeHarvest, said: “Bill and the team at Face were keen to utilise their TimeHarvest DigiQuote system to add FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody information to their quotes, invoices and delivery notes in the most automated way possible. We have worked with them to create the software functionality, and were delighted that the auditors found our solution to be both user friendly and accurate in its execution.”

Commenting on the use of FSC/PEFC stock at Face Creative, Sales Manager Steve Hars said: “Certainly over 75% of our work is now printed on FSC accredited stock. Many larger clients specify the use of such stocks, including the print management companies. Now that we have completed our audit we will now be able to print the FSC Chain of Custody logo onto work where the customer requires.”

Face Creative buys in both sheet and reel stock, with most material purchased from either Howard Smith or Premier Paper.

Work on the project at Face was handled by Bill Harding, Geoff Warrington, and Len Gold.

About TimeHarvest

TimeHarvest was founded in 2003 by digital print veteran Geoff Stephens for the express purpose of developing affordable, easy-to-use software aimed squarely at users of modern digital presses. The company operates from the UK but has clients in Europe, North America and South Africa. For further information on TimeHarvest visit the www.timeharvest.com web site or contact the company direct at TimeHarvest Ltd, Mill Corner, Littleworth Village, Oxford, OX33 1TR, telephone 01865 872 086.

About Face Creative

Face Creative offers the most comprehensive one-stop shop for digital printing and display needs. Based in The Angel, Islington the company can easily access the whole of the London area. Its many services include high-quality digital printing, high-end drum scanning, contract proofing, poster production including pop-up and banner stands. Face has a long history in the graphics and pre-press industry. Originally formed as Face Makeup in 1968 the company has metamorphosed through many changes in the industry to become the most comprehensive digital printer in London, yet still retaining the mind-set of “craftsmen”. For further information on Face Creative visit the www.face-creative.co.uk web site or call Steve Hars on 020 7713 9777.

ENDS

First Four-Colour Press in England?

Is it the first or last four-colour press in England? For Penzance-based Headland Printers the company’s recently acquired Ryobi 524 HXX is certainly their first dedicated four-colour machine, which has been purchased together with the company’s first computer-to-plate investment, a Screen Micra system. Both machines are pre-owned products purchased from Apex Digital Graphics, the UK distributor for Ryobi presses, ECRM polyester-based computer-to-plate systems, and Screen metal-based computer-to-plate devices. The equipment is used to the delights of the south-west of the country, having previously been installed at Newton Abbott-based Wotton Printers.

Marc Clemens, along with fellow directors Chris Williams and Chris Jenkin, took over the running of Headland Printers some 14 months ago and immediately started putting plans in place with regard to modernising and growing the business. “Printing was taking place on single and two-colour Fuji 52 presses, with plates being created with film and an exposure frame. Things had to change for the business to move forward and for our pricing to be more competitive,” said Marc Clemens. The trio were made aware by Apex Digital Graphics of some excellent used equipment that would soon become available, due to a company investing in new product.

“The 524 HXX and the Screen Micra were exactly what we were looking for,” said Marc. “This investment has certainly moved the business forward quickly and in the right direction. Certainly our monthly throughput has increased significantly since the installation, and we have not had to over-commit on finance to move the business into dedicated four-colour printing and CtP.”

Headland Printers produce a wide range of commercial print, including magazines, brochures, stationery, leaflets and books. The company employs a team of 13, and has been in business for over 40 years. It is able to handle the full print process from in-house design through to print finishing.

Standard Ryobi 524 HXX features include semi-automatic plate changing, Ryobi Program Inking, the Ryobi AAC aqua automatic control system, and automatic ink roller/blanket cleaning devices, all controlled via the Ryobi Printing Control System.

Commenting on the sale, Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director for Apex Digital Graphics, said: “Many printers are looking at the cost benefits associated with used equipment at the moment. We are always more than happy to talk with printers that feel a used press would be better suited to their needs, and are often in a position to supply such products as other customers’ trade up to larger or faster machines. The equipment sold to Headland Printers had been kept busy at the previous printers, but has been well maintained and is in top condition. I am sure that it will prove an excellent investment for them.”

For more details on Headland Printers call 01736 364 694 or visit the www.headlandprinters.co.uk web site.

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, the Screen Plate-Rite Micra metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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

Benson Group Moves into Pharma Labels Sector

Folding carton specialist Benson Group, UK packaging company of the year, has announced details of its first move into the labels sector with the purchase of a Gallus EM340S printing press with a Scantech VisionTrack rewind and inspection machine for its pharmaceutical-focused Medica Packaging business in Crewe, Cheshire.

The company cites customer demand as being the key driving factor behind the move. “We are now able to offer pharmaceutical customers the creation of cartons, leaflets and labels all from one production site. We do not believe that any other business in the UK is able to offer this single site production focus for pharma customers,” said Mark Kerridge, Benson Group Managing Director. “Single site production helps to ensure consistency of print quality across all three elements, as well as offering customers the facility to purchase a complete packaging “kit”. For many pharmaceutical companies a single site audit also offers significant benefits.”

The seven-colour Gallus EM340S UV-Flexographic press, is capable of a wide range of label production formats, including reverse printing, printing on adhesive, edge slit, in-line die cutting, as well as printing onto a wide range of substrates, from paper to unsupported film, with weights from 25 microns through to 400 microns. The flexibility of the machine means that other printing processes and label formats such as silk screen, foil blocking and “peel ‘n’ read”, can be added to the machine at anytime. Print production will use Benzophenone free, low-odour printing inks, suited for both food and pharmaceutical packaging requirements. Anticipated average production speed of the machine is in the region of 80 metres per minute.

Quality assurance is very much to the fore with the new machine, and the production system that is being put in place around it. Medica has installed a press comparator system in order to compare the “first off” print production pass to a customer approved PDF – a move that the company believes is a first in the pharmaceutical label market. A camera system on the press then allows a live visual check of every printed label for the machine operator during the production run.

The Scantech rewind machine will also be equipped with the latest 100% vision inspection technology, inspecting every label 100% of the time. Another innovation of this machine is the re-inspection of labels through the vision system, to ensure that all waste is removed. As well as the vision system, the machine will have the capability to verify barcodes and consecutively number each label all in one pass. “Accuracy and quality of the finished product are critical in pharmaceutical work,” explains Mark Kerridge. “This press provides a quality control system for label production that is second-to-none.”

The creation of the label production department at Medica is being overseen by Charlie McGrath, who brings his 25 years of label production experience to the role of Labels and Leaflets Manager at the 100% pharmaceutical plant. Charlie’s industry experience includes time spent in the production of pharmaceutical labels at MY Healthcare and Field Boxmore.

About the Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

Xeikon 8000 in action at the Hunkeler innovationdays 2009

Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, has announced that it will showcase its flagship digital color press, the Xeikon 8000 at the 2009 edition of the Hunkeler innovationdays. This bi-annual event brings together leading practitioners from the printing industry, offering an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the Xeikon 8000’s capabilities and the power of an integrated solution.

The Xeikon 8000 is renowned for its unique combination of uncompromising print quality (1200 dpi at 4 bits/spot) and industry-best speed (230 ppm), making it ideally suited for high-quality, high value-added transpromo applications. It will be showcased as part of a total solution in combination with Hunkeler finishing equipment.

The application on show is a sophisticated full color transpromo for an air miles loyalty program. The mailing combines customer-specific text and transactional information with personalized images provided by Germany-based AlphaPicture (www.alphapicture.com). The data intensive workflow is streamlined through the powerful combination of the Xeikon 8000’s digital front-end, the X-800, and its IPDS Controller which handles the IPDS input data stream directly, without intermediate conversions, resulting in a highly productive process printing full color documents at rated engine speed.

“We wanted to use an application that would not only illustrate the Xeikon 8000’s capabilities, but also impose heavy demands on the finishing equipment,” explains Danny Mertens, Business Development Manager Document Printing, at Xeikon.

In an in-line configuration of Hunkeler finishing modules, the mailing is cut, perforated, folded in three, and glued. The page containing transactional information is two-hole punched for easy filing. The mailings are finally combined in batches of 20-25, tied together and ready for delivery at a postal services provider. The application is shown in roll-to-sheet as well as in roll-to-roll configuration.

“We greatly welcome the opportunity to demonstrate once again the unique combination of quality and speed achieved by the Xeikon 8000. Customer and industry feedback since its launch in March last year confirms the importance of offset-challenging print quality in the transpromo market,” says Danny Mertens, adding, “We are even more pleased to be able to show it as part of such a sophisticated integrated solution, which is an excellent example of the successful collaboration between our companies’ R&D teams.”

“We are pleased and honored to welcome Xeikon at this year’s edition of the innovationdays, Xeikon being one of our valued partners. We are convinced that their strong presence at the event will tighten the already successful relationship between our companies, taking it beyond the existing OEM agreement for unwinders and rewinders,” says Erich Hodel, Director Sales at Hunkeler.

The Hunkeler innovationdays 2009 will be held in the Allmend Exhibition Center in Lucerne. From Monday February 16 until Thursday February 19 visitors can see the Xeikon 8000 in action at booth 4 in Hall 1.

Need More Publicity? Try DIY PR!

Genesis Marketing Services, a PR company specialising in the print and packaging sectors, has announced the availability of a free guide to do-it-yourself public relations. The guide is available on the company’s web site www.genesis-marketing.com

Commenting on this latest initiative, Russ Hicks, managing director of Genesis, said: “There are many companies out there in the print and packaging sectors that are desperately seeking more publicity for new products or services via the trade media. Whilst ideally many of them might want to employ the services of a professional agency to get company news out into the market, many are finding that with budget constraints they cannot afford such luxuries at this moment in time.”

The DIY guide offers an eleven point plan to help people through the basics of creating and distributing a good quality press release.

“This certainly isn’t a complete public relations package,” added Russ. “It is primarily aimed at those new to putting together a press release, but some more experienced marketers might also find one or two points of interest in it. The one thing the guide can’t provide, of course, is the time required to produce such work!

“Publicity is a key ingredient of the marketing mix. The industry as a whole needs to be aware of new products and services, and to gain an understanding of what benefits they might offer – PR is the most effective way of achieving this. Even significant sums spent on other promotional activities, such as exhibitions, need PR running alongside to ensure that these investments provide the maximum return.”

The Genesis web site also offers readers some suggestions for possible recipients of press releases via its “links” page, which features clickable links through to many of the print and packaging world’s leading publications.

Another recent addition to the Genesis site includes some thoughts for iPhone users regarding applications that they might want to find out more about (see the “Genesis 2” section of the site).

About Genesis Marketing

Genesis Marketing was founded in 1996. With over 13 years of public relations experience and some 32 years in the print industry, Genesis owner Russell Hicks offers customers a wealth of industry knowledge.

Having written over 30 articles on industry topics, Russell is also aware of what journalists require by way of input and assistance in their creative tasks.

Genesis Marketing’s PR expertise has been brought to play many sectors of the industry, including: commercial web and sheet-fed; newspaper; digital; and packaging. Products represented have included pre-press, offset-litho sheet-fed, web offset, digital, and post-press. Services represented have included printers and packaging companies.

For further information on Genesis Marketing Services call 01908 260 662, 07885 852 428 or visit the www.genesis-marketing.com web site.

TimeHarvest Announces Hosted Rental Service for DigiQuote and JobControl Software

TimeHarvest Limited, the award-winning software development company specialising in digital print, has announced a solution to three pressing needs amongst digital printing companies: firstly, to preserve cashflow; secondly, to provide increased data security; and finally, for sales staff to be able to roam whilst still having full access to office based systems.

The solution? To make TimeHarvest products available via a Hosted Rental Service. Products available via this service include DigiQuote, the ever-popular quoting system built for the digital printing companies; JobControl, the interactive production and project management system; and FileFix, the repair tool for cleaning up incoming databases with poor data entry. The service continues to make these products available through both Mac and PC platforms.

Geoff Stephens, Managing Director of TimeHarvest, said: “We have established a server system through a partner FileMaker developer which now allows TimeHarvest products to be provided on a monthly rental basis. As well as meaning that users can access their system from virtually anywhere, the hosted rental service offers back-up and security services far superior to what most users could provide for themselves.”

With regard to access, company sales personnel will be able to launch DigiQuote whilst face-to-face with the customer, meaning immediate quotations could be prepared utilising the same shared costing information that would be used in the office. Management will also be able to view JobControl information from any location with an internet connection at any hour of the day, enabling them to see the latest status on an urgent job.

Because the service is run from an ISO 9001-accredited datacentre, TimeHarvest also provides users with a level of protection against theft, fire, flood, data loss and power failure which is far superior to what most users could provide for themselves.

Commenting on this new approach to software provision, TimeHarvest’s Geoff Stephens said: “We have been looking at the potential for a hosted rental service for some time, and with financial constraints at the top of everybody’s agenda, this just has to be the right time to launch it.

“The monthly rental approach means that customers don’t have to swallow a lump-sum payment, but can pay for the service as they use it. This solution also offers great security benefits for the small to medium sized digital printer, where often “disaster recovery” systems are limited or non-existent. I firmly believe that this has to be the way forward with regard to software provision.”

An early adopter of the new hosted system, Bill Harding of London-based Face Creative, was enthusiastic about the solution: “It’s working very well – certainly as fast as operating TimeHarvest products in the traditional manner. The off-site feature also helps us to tick a box on our ISO 9000 application, as it gives us true disaster-recovery capabilities for business critical data.” The company runs both DigiQuote and JobControl products on both Mac and PC platforms.

As an example of the cost savings that can be made, DigiQuote-PRO is priced at £2,995 for a full software package, but via the hosted rental service the same software can be rented for just £158 per month. The minimum contract term is 12 months, and TimeHarvest will offer a 50% discount to companies subsequently deciding to make a full product purchase.

TimeHarvest was founded in 2003 by digital print veteran Geoff Stephens for the express purpose of developing affordable, easy-to-use software aimed squarely at users of modern digital presses. The company operates from the UK but has clients in Europe, North America and South Africa.

For further information visit the www.timeharvest.com web site or contact the company direct at TimeHarvest Ltd, Mill Corner, Littleworth Village, Oxford, OX33 1TR, telephone 01865 872 086.

OHSAS 18001:2007 Certification for Medica

Medica Packaging, Crewe, Cheshire, the pharmaceutical packaging facility of the Benson Group, has announced that it has attained the standard required for Occupational Health & Safety Management System 18001:2007, as applicable to the manufacture of printed, folding cartons. This latest award upgrades the certification at Medica, which had previously gained the 18001:1999 version of the standard. The award follows a similar achievement at Benson Group’s headquarters in Bardon, Leicestershire.

The award represents an international occupational health and safety management system specification, embracing BS8800, AS/NZ 4801, NSAI SR 320 and a number of other publications. OHSAS 18001 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) management systems standards, in order to facilitate the integration of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems by organizations, should they wish to do so.

The OHSAS specification gives requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, to enable an organisation to control its OH&S risks and improve its performance. “The standard provides a comprehensive specification to ensure that all aspects of the business are considered and managed,” said Mark Kerridge, Managing Director of Benson Group.

“Whilst gaining this accreditation has involved considerable effort on our part, we believe that our customers will derive many benefits from the work that we have put in. By driving out risk and eradicating hazards within the company we are effectively reducing downtime and improving our workflow. It is about creating the least risky and most efficient way of working.”

The OHSAS specification is focused on continuous improvement, and the company has put plans in place to regularly measure the effectiveness of the standard on a regular basis. “18001 illustrates to customers that we as a business are working to world class standards on a day-to-day basis, and therefore we are working both safely and effectively. Consistency in these areas leads to consistency of output, and that is a major benefit for our customers,” added Andy Clough, Health & Safety Adviser at Medica, who successfully guided the business through the programme.

About the Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton supplier, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based food packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Packaging Company of the Year to Exhibit at easyFairs Packaging Innovations 2009

Folding carton specialist Benson Group, based in Bardon, Leicestershire, is preparing to exhibit at Packaging Innovations 2009, which takes place on February 11^th and 12^th, 2009, at Birmingham’s NEC. The exhibition follows recent celebrations at the company after its success at the prestigious 2008 UK Packaging Awards, where it won both the “Packaging Company of the Year” and the “Cartonboard Packaging Award”.

The Benson Group is one of the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton suppliers, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries. The company currently employs some 790 personnel across four sites. Headquartered in the Midlands, the company also owns three other production sites in the North West and North East of the country. Packaging technicians from Benson Group will be on hand at the Packaging Innovations event to discuss solutions to visitors packaging problems in both the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

The Group’s philosophy with regard to packaging is based on the “Three P’s” – protection, preservation, and promotion. Packaging exists to serve all three elements.

Packaging should be designed to protect the product from the point of production through to the point of use, helping to maintain the product in its original condition. It should aid the distribution and storage of the product.

Packaging should assist in the preservation of the product, keeping both liquids and solids fresh and suitable for use. According to World Health Organisation statistics, food wastage in the third world can be as high as 50%, whilst in developed economies as low as 3%. Much of this difference is due to good quality packaging.

Packaging should aid the promotion of the product by helping to establish brand recognition and playing a role in establishing brand loyalty. It is also required to convey instructions for the product, warnings, package contents, and other statutory requirements.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key food packaging clients across the Group include Bakkavör, Northern Foods, Greencore, and all leading British supermarket chains, including Tesco, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons.

One area of significant success for the company during 2008 has been in exporting product to Europe. Benson Group has been busy shipping carton product to virtually every major European market, with production efficiencies as well as the current exchange rate benefits being cited as major factors for winning this new business.

About the Benson Group

Benson Group, the Packaging Company of the Year for 2008, is one of the UK’s leading privately owned printed carton suppliers, producing packaging product for both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £25 million. The company recently announced details of the acquisition of various trading assets of Glasgow-based packaging company Cameron Linn.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, Bakkavör, and leading supermarket chains.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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Full Colour for Fulprint

Fulprint Ltd, York, has announced the purchase of its first four-colour press – a Ryobi 524HE machine from Apex Digital Graphics, the UK distributor for Ryobi presses, ECRM polyester-based computer-to-plate systems, and Screen metal-based computer-to-plate devices. The B3-format press replaces a Ryobi 522HE machine purchased by the company at Ipex 2006.

“Like every print business, we have seen a growing demand from customers for four-colour work, and whilst we were able to produce this with our two-colour Ryobi, we needed to be more competitive in an aggressive market,” said Martin Gray, Managing Director of Fulprint.

Two months on from the initial installation, Martin confirms it was certainly the right decision: “It has changed our business significantly. We are already 30% more productive. The off-press controls are a great advantage, and the IVS (ink volume setter) is a huge benefit as well – we can now make-ready and get into saleable printed sheets within just six minutes. The system really helps the operator in the set-up process, and that also means that our operators are able to print to exactly the same standard. The system also stores the job settings, so we can produce the same high quality next time that job comes in.”

The 52cm landscape format four-colour 524HE includes semi-automatic plate changing, program inking and many other “big press” features. Based on Ryobi’s “V” shaped five-cylinder design, the press incorporates off-press controls, continuous dampening, a stream feeder, remote ink ducts, and handles paper sizes from 100 x 105mm through to 520 x 375mm in thicknesses up to 0.5mm, all running at printing speeds of up to 11,000 sheets per hour.

It’s been a busy year at Fulprint, following the merger in March 2008 with Suomi Printing, a company with a very active internet approach to business. “It’s been an interesting partnership,” explains Martin Gray. “We have profited significantly from additional printing contracts, and we have also benefited from Suomi’s broader, national web marketplace. It’s been a good fit.”

The incorporation of Suomi Printing into the Fulprint business is just the latest of a number of mergers that have taken place over recent years for the York printer. Bob Scrase, Financial Director of Fulprint, said: “We started the business back in 1985 in Fulford, close to York. We moved into York itself about 5 years ago, and have benefited from a number of small and friendly acquisitions during that time. These have helped us to steadily grow the business, which is now approaching a £1 million turnover, and is almost certain to surpass that landmark with the capabilities now available through the new press purchase.”

The company also offers digital printing capabilities through a Xerox system, and currently employs 12 people. “Some 25% of our business is trade work for other printers in the area,” adds Bob Scrase. Other directors of the business include Frank Curran, Production Director, one of the original employees of the business, who began life at Fulprint as a trainee.

For more details on Fulprint call 01904 647 422 or visit the www.fulprint.com web site.

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, the Screen Plate-Rite Micra metal plate system, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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Second Four-Colour for Phase Print, Nottingham

Phase Print, Underwood, Nottingham, has announced a further addition to its four-colour printing capabilities with the purchase of a Ryobi 524HE machine from Apex Digital Graphics, the UK distributor for Ryobi presses, ECRM polyester-based computer-to-plate systems, and Screen metal-based computer-to-plate devices. The machine has been added to provide extra printing capacity for the busy Nottingham company, and the purchase comes just two years after Phase Print installed a Ryobi 524GX machine.

Kevin Marks, Managing Director of Phase Print, said: “Having recently added two major client accounts from London and Leeds, we needed to have a close look at our printing capacity. It was decided that it would be a significant benefit for us to add additional B3-format Ryobi fire power into the press room in order to give us extra printing flexibility, and also some spare capacity for new business.

“The 524GX has been a tremendous machine for us, and so we had no hesitation in going back to Apex and Ryobi for our new machine. The 524HE is a slightly lower specification than the GX model, but with all the optional equipment we’ve had included there really isn’t that much in it. However, it is a lower priced product, and that fitted our budget – the right machine, at the right price, at the right time!”

The 52cm landscape format four-colour 524HE includes semi-automatic plate changing, program inking and many other “big press” features. Based on Ryobi’s “V” shaped five-cylinder design, the press incorporates off press controls, continuous dampening, a stream feeder, remote ink ducts, and handles paper sizes from 100 x 105mm through to 520 x 375mm in thicknesses up to 0.5mm, all running at printing speeds of up to 11,000 sheets per hour.

Phase Print was established during the mid 1990’s, and was created to provide a marketing, design and printing service for customers. “The concept was to take away the hassle of print buying, allowing the customer to concentrate on their own core business activity,” said Kevin Marks.

“Phase does more than just design and printing. The company will also help a client to decide how to best promote their business – whether the requirement is a simple business card or a full corporate re-design and marketing appraisal. We are also quite happy to provide just the graphic design to a customer, just the print service, or both. We believe that being flexible wins us friends.”

Customers cover a wide geographical spread, from London and the South West right up to the northern heights of Scotland.

“During our years in business we have established what matters to our customers, and apart from providing high quality, competitive prices and on time delivery, we have recognized that it’s our friendly, fast and efficient customer service and after sales that really counts. We believe some of the old sayings, “service with a smile”, are the best ones, and we work closely with all of our customers, going that extra mile to ensure individual needs are not only identified, but satisfied, to the best of our ability, through providing them our “second-to-none” service.”

On the subject of service, Kevin adds, “Apex has proved to be a great partner for our business. They provide excellent product at competitive prices, and the after-sales service and support has also been top quality.”

Phase Print believes in offering the customer the best possible quality and as such has a policy of continually re-investing in both the latest technology and developing its people. On the technology side of that coin, in addition to the two Ryobi four-colour presses, the company also offers digital printing solutions via a state-of-the-art Xerox system, and large-format print production for banners, signage, poster and exhibition work. Complete in-house finishing allows jobs to be completed quickly and despatched to the client.

From a people perspective, the company has recently been presented with the prestigious “Investor In People” award, and has further developed its environmental stance, and just achieved the environmental international standard ISO EN 14001.

For further information on Phase Print call 01773 764 288 or visit the www.phaseprint.com web site.

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, the Screen Plate-Rite metal plate systems, the ECRM range of polyester platemaking units, and a range of B2-format computer-to-plate products. 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.

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The Digital Press Announces Xeikon 5000 with Web Finishing Module

The Digital Press, the Bournemouth-based digital printing specialist, has announced details regarding the purchase of a Xeikon 5000 digital colour press, which will replace the company’s existing Xeikon DCP50D machine. The new machine is due to be installed in January 2009. The order also includes the purchase of the UK’s first Xeikon Web Finishing Module, an option that provides a sealer to the printed work prior to cutting. The sealer helps to reduce the risk of sheets being marked during the print finishing process.

“Whilst we have been delighted with the performance of our DCP50D, the additional capabilities of the Xeikon 5000 will allow us to offer an even better digital printing service,” explained Peter Randall, Managing Director of The Digital Press. “We currently provide a high quality digital printing service to many printers and design agencies in the Poole and Bournemouth area, but we are planning to expand our business to cover a wider geographical area. We believe that the Xeikon 5000, with its even higher quality image production, faster throughput speed, heavier stock capability, and fifth colour unit will help us to do just that.

“The format of the Xeikon allows us to provide printing solutions that other print businesses cannot handle – six-page gatefold brochures, posters up to B2 in size, and long banner work are typical of the jobs that printers ask us to produce. We are also keen to promote our capabilities in other areas of print, such as short run folders, and we have significant expertise in personalisation – a sector that we believe will grow considerably over the coming years,” added Peter Randall.

The fifth colour unit on the Xeikon 5000 will allow The Digital Press to provide a wider colour gamut than other digital printing solutions, as well as accommodate highly accurate reproduction of corporate colours, whilst the ability to handle stocks of up to 350gsm will mean that the company can produce a wider range of printed products for customers. With the ability to produce up to 4.2 million pages per month the new machine will provide tremendous scope for further growth at The Digital Press.

Xeikon Web Finishing Module

The addition of the Xeikon Web Finishing Module brings lasting quality to all digitally printed products because of the improved protection that it offers. This protective layer makes all Xeikon printed documents stand up to the wear and tear of everyday use, while keeping the colours bright and accurate as always. This means reference documents remain in perfect condition for a much longer time and any image damage caused by mail sorting systems is eliminated.

Many finishing processes, using rollers and wheels, can leave unwanted marks on digital prints, and sometimes cause image damage. The Web Finishing Module makes this issue a thing of the past. Moreover, the protective coating significantly reduces the build-up of static charges, which are often responsible for misfeeds and paper jams.

Commenting on the order for Xeikon supplier Punch Graphix UK, Managing Director Chris Matthews, said: “Naturally we are delighted to be able to help Peter and The Digital Press move forward with the newer, advanced specification of the Xeikon 5000 digital colour press. We believe that the significant advances in digital printing technology offered by this machine with help the company to grow as it seeks to establish itself as the digital printing supplier of choice for the Dorset area and beyond.”

Xeikon 5000

The Xeikon 5000 has all the features that have become Xeikon’s trademark: true One-Pass-Duplex™, high-quality digital imagine, a substrate width of 500 mm combined with virtually unlimited sheet length, and the capability to print onto a wide variety of substrates.

The Xeikon 5000 is integrated its own digital front-end, the X-800, which delivers an impressive toolbox enabling faster and better integration of applications and equipment into a seamless workflow thanks to the implementation of open standards. X-800 processes PostScript, PDF, PPML and PPML/VDX files at high speed and is also designed to support JDF-based digital printing job tickets.

Being web-fed, the Xeikon 5000 is intrinsically fast: it can print multi-page documents at a speed of 7,800 full-colour pages per hour (130 A4 pages per minute).

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

For more details on The Digital Press call 01202 300 666 or e-mail thedigitalpress@btconnect.com

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UK’s First Xeikon 3300 for Borble

Rhyl-based Borble has announced the installation of the UK’s first Xeikon 3300 label press, which is now running alongside the company’s existing Xeikon 330 machine. The Xeikon 3300 was officially launched at Drupa in 2008, and offers 1200 dpi and throughput speeds of almost 20 meters per minute. The additional press will further increase capacity at Borble and help the company to provide an even better service to its customers.

A new start-up business back in March 2005, Borble specialises in digital label and printed wallpaper border production (the name Borble came from an amalgamation of the words border and label, the markets that the company was designed to serve). The business has grown to a £1.2 million turnover for 2008. Borble will now run the two machines on double-day shifts.

Joint Managing Director Barry Griffiths has already been impressed by the productivity of the new 3300 machine: “The new press operates at almost three times the speed of the 330. With regard to quality, the 1200 x 3600 dpi imaging resolution coupled with Xeikon’s FA toner gives the highest quality images that I have ever seen from a digital label press – they really are pin sharp, whether its text, complex images, or detailed security features.”

The five-unit press features the ability to print standard four-colour process along with an opaque white, a special colour, or a security toner. The Xeikon 3300 will print at up to 19.2 meters per minute, with a monthly duty cycle of up to 700,000 meters. Imaging width is up to 322mm, and the machine can print on materials from as light as 40 gsm right through to 350 gsm. The dry toner electrophotography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without coating or pre-treatment. As with the Xeikon 330, the new machine has been supplied complete with its own inline finishing station via Xeikon’s relationship with Danish equipment supplier GM.

The installation of the new digital label press has been augmented with the creation of a new web-to-print based system at Borble, which can be found at the www.labelsprint.com address. Visitors to the site can obtain a quote or place an order in three easy steps. The password protected customer area of the site allows users to archive and manage files so that only current designs are visible. Reprints of these labels can be ordered online quickly and easily. “We believe that this is the first such web-to-print solution for the UK label market – we see it as a new approach to a faster and even more efficient service for our customers,” said Barry Griffiths. The system will be shown by Borble at February’s Packaging Innovations event at the NEC in Birmingham.

Some 50% of Borble’s label business is from trade accounts. “Flexo printers just cannot match digital for cost when it comes to short run work,” explains Barry Griffiths. “Because we have very little in the way of set-up costs we are always competitive where low quantities are required. Because no plates are required we can also very quickly produce a press-proof for a customer, using the exact colours and stock of the final job. Press-proofs are a tremendous advantage – the customer can see exactly how the job will look on the selected substrate.” Other key markets for the company include chemical, food, cosmetics, industrial and promotional labels.

Commenting on the new Borble purchase, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “We are delighted that Borble has purchased the first Xeikon 3300 in the UK, and will run this new 1200 x 3600 dpi technology alongside its existing Xeikon 330 machine. It is a great pleasure to see a business continuing to expand based on the success of Xeikon equipment. We firmly believe that the latest digital label printing technology incorporated with the Xeikon 3300 will provide Borble with the speed and quality edge that will continue to set it apart from its competitors.”

Borble will be exhibiting at the forthcoming easyFairs Packaging Innovations event at the NEC, on February 11 and 12. The event will help to introduce the web-to-print www.labelsprint.com system to prospective users.

For further information on Punch Graphix and Xeikon e-mail infouk@punchgraphix.com or visit the www.xeikon.com web site.

For more details on Borble call 01745 360159 or visit the www.labelsprint.com web site.

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