Offset Printing
Direct mail specialist buys SM 74 with efficiency in mind
Friday 03. April 2009 - Manchester mailing house Paton Brown has bought a Speedmaster SM 74-5 with JDF connectivity to prepress and MIS, believing that this press and the shopfloor data output will enable it to increase productivity and reduce waste and cost. The press was commissioned last month.
As a business which is involved in many environmental projects for the utilities companies, the green credentials of the press were important. The increased automation makes it energy- as well as time-efficient and it can run with low alcohol levels and the company may choose to run vegetable inks.
The company runs with just one litho press as part of a multi-disciplinary operation which offers customers: data management; laser inkjet, digital and litho print services; design; fulfilment; response handling; and warehousing and distribution.
Managing director Ian Cooper explains: “This press purchase was planned last year prior to the credit crunch and at the time we were thinking of a second-hand machine. However, a visit to Drupa and a look at the costs in detail made us decide to buy new and to buy sooner rather than later.
“Everyone is being forced to cut costs so we wanted a press which would run more efficiently. Paper costs are still rising and in many cases they account for 40% of the job so we have to do work more quickly but still to the same high quality. The new press will output significantly more work and will be a great deal more efficient than our previous ten year old press.”
The collection of real time shopfloor data will enable in-house account handlers to look at ways of cutting costs at a time when print margins are very tight. The company also believes the collapse of other businesses in the north west will also create new business opportunities.
Ahead of the press, Paton Brown installed a Suprasetter 75. It replaced a Trendsetter and the new platesetter is described by Mr Cooper as “a cracking machine”.
The installation of these two pieces of kit is in line with Paton Browns company policy of being committed to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment in the delivery of its services.