CTP - Computer to Plate
Colourworld tops and tails its ten-colour B1 investment
Monday 30. November 2009 - A new CtP device and highly automated folder will top and tail the companys Speedmaster SM 102-10-P, its debut B1 machine installed this autumn. The Winchester company says that investment combined with its FSC and PEFC Chain of custody certification has proved a recipe for growth and success in a tough market. A video of the FSC and its benefits can be seen at www.diablocolourworld.com.
“We went live with the ten-colour, a good condition secondhand machine, in October,” says managing director Andy Tyler-Smith. “We have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of work were doing and when we found we were putting out about £50,000 of B1 print each month we felt it was time to invest. Subsequently we have added a further 40% of B1 work and the growth continues.”
The company made a move from Agfa to Heidelberg for its CtP device and with the Suprasetter 105 it is able to output 33 plates an hour, almost double the productivity of its previous system. This device handles plates for both the ten-colour and Colourworlds XL 75-5+L which was installed along with a Ti52 buckle folder last year.
This year its folder of choice is the Stahlfolder KH 78, Heidelbergs highly productive combination folder. It will be installed in December.
“It had to be a Heidelberg; it was the finishers choice. In their mind its about speed not price; price matters to me but this machine ticked all the boxes. It is a great machine, very quick to set up, very easy to operate and with its continuous feeder and stacker its very efficient and keeps our saddle-stitcher well fed in a timely manner.”
This year the 12,000 sq ft factory has moved from 24/3 to 24/5 working and it looks likely to move to 24/7 cover in 2010. Its Chain of Custody status has attracted an increase in local authority work and it plans to supplement its environmental stance with ISO 14001 in the coming months.
Its turnover last year was £2.3m and is set to rise to £3.2m this financial year and hopefully £5m next year.
It handles a very broad range of print including promotional material, magazines, books and stationery. The B1 facility has attracted longer runs but with the XL75 it can offer B2 short and medium run response work as well.