The platesetter, which has been installed in the past few months, has enabled the Glasgow business to eliminate its darkroom, Auto Loader and processor to free up additional space and make its working conditions brighter. The old Prosetter has been scrapped.

Managing director Davy Hunter said: “It was time for a change; the Prosetter was getting on a bit and space was becoming an issue. The Suprasetter is far smaller, far greener and far cleaner.”

Hunter said the investment was required to take the company to the next stage of production. The A52, which will run on double-day shifts to keep pace with customer demand for print, will handle more than 1,200 plates a month.

The business has also upgraded its workflow with Heidelberg packages including Prepress Manager, Integration Manager, Signa Station imposition software, PDF Toolbox and Pressroom Manager.

“We have always been fans of Heidelberg’s colour management and workflow. Investing further in this area ensures our front-end is as up-to-date as can be in the short to medium term,” said Hunter.

“Heidelberg offers integrated litho and digital workflows so it doesn’t matter if you output to the CTP device or a number of digital presses. It is all managed from one source, which keeps things clean.”

Litho print work still makes up the majority of Core Image’s turnover. The business currently operates a five-colour Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52 press but now the firm has additional space at its 550sqm site, it hopes to invest in a new litho press shortly.

The company also runs Konica Minolta digital machinery and Epson and Mutoh wide-format devices. It completes folding, stitching, trimming and creasing in-house and outsources finishing work including embossing and foiling.

Core Image, which has 11 staff, predominantly serves design agencies and corporate marketing departments.