Offset Printing
Cowan Print steps up to five-colour production
Tuesday 08. December 2009 - Family firm Cowan Print is protecting it margins in a demanding market by investing in the latest press technology. By replacing a four-colour with a five-colour press for sealing, special colours and metallics it will be able to offer a wider range of solutions than its digital rivals and with the inline drer turnround times will also be greatly reduced.
The company is set to install a Speedmaster SM 52-5 at the end of the month, replacing an 11 year old four-colour model. With a fifth unit for sealing and in line drying Cowan Print believes it can provide customers with faster response times than ever before whilst retaining the very high quality that litho provides.
Last Christmas the company took delivery of a Polar 78X and the year before that a Suprasetter 74 so this completes the front to back update although managing director Craig Cowan will continue to invest regularly, recognising that reduced unit cost is one way of retaining profit in a market where printers are having to produce more volume to achieve the same profit as previous years.
“Having a single supplier helps in terms of workflow and also in terms of service. Heidelbergs back up is excellent,” says Mr Cowan. “The press we are replacing has been a good press but we continue to invest and update so that our customers get the best quality and service and we remain profitable. These days we have to be selective about what work we take on and not chase work which is unprofitable. We handle a good selection of commercial work, including magazines, leaflets, posters, menus and stationery.”
Cowan Print is based at a single factory unit in Kilsyth, near Glasgow, and it has been in business since 1987. It offers a full design to delivery service and supplies office stationery and equipment as well as print to a nationwide customer base.