Prepress

The Color Co makes its move from polyester to metal plates

Monday 01. March 2010 - The Color Co (Cheltenham) is replacing a Polysetter with a Suprasetter from Heidelberg to enable it to handle higher runs and higher quality work.

“Our Speedmaster SM 52-5 has attracted higher run lengths and the market demand is for higher quality so we decided it was time to invest in a metal-based system,” says Ashley Wainwright, managing director. “We looked at other suppliers but were willing to pay a premium for the Heidelberg machine because we felt the Suprasetter was the best on the market and that Heidelberg’s back up and support is unmatched by any other supplier. It gives us a platform for networked production and closed loop colour in future.”

Although purchased outright rather than through a consumables deal, The Color Co has decided to take the Saphira Chem-Free plates which marry up with the company’s environmental policies as it works towards ISO 14001 accreditation and FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody.

“We reviewed prices and were surprised and pleased to find that Heidelberg’s consumables prices were currently among the best on offer,” says Mr Wainwright.

The Suprasetter is fitted with a Single Cassette Loader which enables the company, which handles a volume of high pagination work, the ability to output 50 or even 100 plates without manual intervention. It will run 6am to 6pm but can even be set to output plates into the night ready for production next morning.

The company’s MetaDimension is being upgraded to Prepress Manager with Signastation imposition software which its operators are familiar with and like. Heidelberg will train the operators when the CtP device is installed at its 6,000 sq ft premises in the next fortnight.

The Color Co has both litho and digital facilities and services many blue chip accounts throughout the Midlands.