Offset Printing

British Printer John Dollin Printing Services Invests to Beef Up its B2 Capacity

Wednesday 12. September 2012 - The Speedmaster XL 75 with Prinect Axis Control streamlines the company's working practices and reduces waste

Competitive in the packaging market – new press easily handles thick boards in the B2 format
Suprasetter 105 combined with Prinect Prepress Manager links prepress to the pressroom and guarantees a closed color loop
Gearing up for the next ten years, John Dollin Printing Services (Dollin Printing) has invested in a Speedmaster XL 75-5+L with Prinect Axis Control spectral measurement, a Suprasetter 105 CtP system with Multi Cassette Loader and Prinect Prepress Manager CIP 4 connectivity from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). The Whitchurch company was the first in the UK to take delivery of a Speedmaster XL 105 in 2005 and is now going for the larger impression cylinder press in B2 format to replace a Speedmaster SM 74-5. It also retains a Speedmaster SM 52-4+L Anicolor and conventional Speedmaster SM 52-4+L.
“We need more automation in B2 and the Speedmaster XL 75 with Prinect Axis Control streamlines our working practices and cuts down on waste. Customers know what today’s technology can produce and as a result quality and colour expectations are high. With the larger impression cylinder and Venturi air system it will be very easy to handle thick boards in this format which is important because about 20% of our throughput is packaging,” says Ian Dollin, co-director with his brother Nigel.
The company is also taking a Suprasetter 105 with Multi Cassette Loader which means it can produce plates speedily for all three presses. This purchase marks a move away from Screen, enabling Dollins to have a single source of supply and better digital connectivity. The CtP device, combined with Prepress Manager linking prepress to the pressroom, means that there is a closed colour loop, monitored by the Prinect Axis Control measurement device.
“If anything goes wrong we will have just one port of call,” says Ian Dollin. “Heidelberg’s service and back up is very good. We have remote service on the Anicolor and this will be supplied for the new XL 75.”
John Dollin Printing Services operates a flexible day shift to service its regional customer base, mainly focused on Hampshire and adjoining counties. The staff at the company are positive about the company making this investment in what remains a tough market. The press is due to arrive this autumn.