Pressroom

Apple Litho changed to the core with front to back investment

Monday 17. January 2011 - Bristol commercial printer Apple Litho is undertaking a front to back investment, upgrading its workflow with Prinect Prepress Manager and Pressroom Manager, adding a Speedmaster XL 75-5+LX B2 press, a Polar 92X and a fully automated Stahlfolder TH66.

“We thoroughly researched the whole market before making this buying decision. We considered digital options, a B3 Anicolor and the Speedmaster XL,” says Mark Bracey, production director .”We felt the XL gave us everything we wanted including the larger B2 format. Inpress Control spectral measurement was the clincher. It is a major advance, meaning less waste sheets and faster set up times. On our two CD 74s we may use up to 1,000 start up sheets but with the Inpress Control system on the new press we will be down to sub 200 which is a significant environmental and cost benefit.”
The new press, which will be installed in March, will replace one of the CDs, a 2001 model. It is a five-colour perfector with coater. This will enable it to handle specials and metallics, even drip off coating effects. The coating unit means faster overall turnround times for its customers.
“We believe there is some work that is placed on digital machines which we can do as easily and cost-effectively on the XL with Inpress Control with all the quality benefits that go with that,” says Mr Bracey.
The upgrading and integrating of its workflow from prepress to pressroom ties in with the need for production and business efficiency.
“The biggest advantage we can see is the analysis of how the job was costed and what it actually took to produce it, critical for very short run work. It ensures we can quote accurately and keenly and optimise our sales and profit potential,” he says.
Five years ago Apple Litho had relatively little in-house finishing and the company used the plethora of trade finishers that Bristol then boasted. It now offers a full cut-fold-stitch service itself. The company is adding a second guillotine to prevent a bottleneck given that almost every job involves some cutting. The arrival of the more automated TH 66 folder means the company will be able to replace two older models, taking the folder portfolio from five to four machines without any compromise on output.
Operating six 12 hour days a week, with nights added as required, Apple Litho’s staff of 22 produce a wide range of high quality work for commercial and council customers. Products printed include brochures, leaflets and a range of other promotional and functional products. Although most of its work is for local customers the print is often distributed nationwide. The company is ISO 14001 certified and uses primarily FSC Chain of Custody papers.