Offset Printing
John Dollin invests in Anicolor for quality gains and waste reduction
Tuesday 03. February 2009 - John Dollin Printing Services, the company which took the first Speedmaster XL 105 in the UK, has returned to Heidelberg for a Speedmaster 52-4+L Anicolor press.
The installation of the Anicolor this month enhances its comprehensive line up of B1, B2 and B3 format litho and digital presses along with in-house finishing.
“We will hopefully be able to lift certain jobs from digital onto litho giving the customer a superior product,” says Ian Dollin, co-director with his brother Nigel.
The company has replaced one of its two SM 74 B2 machines but if feels that the B3 Anicolor is right for the short run (100 to 5,000) market and that it will give as much net output because of its faster makeready and greater potential speed.
“It will reduce our paper waste, give us quicker makeready times and more accurate colour consistency,” says Mr Dollin.
The company envisages using about 16 sets of plates per eight hour shift and it will run the Anicolor on double days where demand requires it. To help it keep up with plate output the company has ordered a Suprasetter A 74 thermal device to run alongside an existing B1 platesetter.
Now all B3 plates will be output on the new Suprasetter, the B1 and B2 plates on the existing device. The company uses about 2,000 to 2,500 plates a month at the moment.
“Customer reaction to our investment has been very positive. They know that with the Anicolor they will be getting a product which is produced with less waste and that it will be of a much higher standard than digital because of the inking system. It means that for colour work one area of the sheet will be the same as another and the first sheet will be the same as the last,” says Mr Dollin.
The environmental credentials of the Anicolor fit with the companys green stance. John Dollin was recently awarded FSC accreditation.
Mr Dollin reports that the XL 105 continues to be a workhorse for the company four years after it made its debut. The companys B2 press is also a Speedmaster.