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

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

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

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

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.

ENDS

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.

ENDS

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.

ENDS

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.

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.

ENDS

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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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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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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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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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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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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