Prepress
WERNHAM CHOOSES SCREEN TO BE GREEN
Monday 05. January 2009 - Attaining environmental accreditation, reducing costs, and a 30% increase in platemaking productivity are among the benefits Wernham Printers are enjoying since the installation of Screen's Platerite 4300E platemaking system.
Paul Quirke, managing director of the London B3 general commercial printer, says: “We do a lot of work for local authorities, unions and charities and were increasingly being asked for our green credentials. We already use FSC, recycled papers and vegetable ink but wanted to do more so we have been working towards the Greenmark standard created for smaller operations. To retain that we have to show continual improvements and installing the Platerite system will do that for us.”
But the investment was not only made to boost the operation’s environmental message. Paul explains: “My partner and I took the company over five years ago and since then we have been working to make it a much more vibrant operation. We have been looking at a range of ways to increase productivity and the platemaking department was one area where we knew we could make big improvements in terms of costs and production times. Changing from conventional film to thermal means we drastically reduce the amount of waste that needs to be taken away. That includes film developer, film fixer and plate development solutions.”
He adds: “We are also around 30% more productive because we are producing the plates much faster and the fact they are punched internally is essential for perfect registration.”
The investment has had a knock on effect on staffing too: “Platemaking used to be quite labour intensive but this way is much faster and means our operator can do other things. He has got a design background and since the Platerite has been installed he has been able to do more design and we are now offering that as a service to our customers.”
As for choosing Screen Paul says: “I talked a lot to people in the trade about what system to choose and everyone spoke very highly of Screen. When I looked at the other options on the market, Screen always came out on top and then they came up with a very competitive offer.”
Wernham Printer’s Screen 4300E Platerite, features include daylight operation, remote monitoring, automated drum balance and internal punching.