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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