The four-star hotel designed the brochure in-house and then Print North East, which is also based in Newcastle, was enlisted to print and finish the product.
Curious Metallics, a shimmering, metallic-finished creative paper supplied by Antalis, was chosen for the job.
Print North East director Steve Gilbert said: “We could instantly see how its striking appearance would be perfect to lift the design and transform it into a brochure that would speak volumes about the quality of the Vermont Hotel’s wedding service.”
Trial print runs were tested on Print North East’s five-colour Komori Lithrone S29 litho press, which was installed early last year, and Xerox Versant 2100 digital printer, which was installed in December, to decide which method would produce the best results.
The business also operates Canon and Konica Minolta digital machinery, a Heidelberg GTO 52 four-colour B3 litho press and finishing kit including a Polar 76 guillotine, a D&K double-side laminator, a Morgana Autocreaser 50 and a Horizon Trimstitch booklet maker.
The business chose to use the Versant 2100 due to the strong results on the metallic finish of the 300gsm Curious Metallics substrate.
“It’s a beautiful paper but when you print it litho it tends to take on characteristics you would expect from an uncoated sheet. It kills the colours a little and lies a bit flat,” said Gilbert.
“But putting it on the Versant the colours sat on top of the sheet; they were very vibrant and jumped off the page.
“The digital reproduction of the images and typeface was extremely clear, vibrant and exactly communicated the premium quality we knew the hotel was looking for.”
The brochure was sent out to Houghton-le-Spring-based Liddle Foil Blocking, which added foil blocking to the cover using a Heidelberg Platen. Print North East then bound it in-house using its Morgana DigiBook 200 PUR perfect binder.
1,000 brochures were printed in total with six of the firm’s staff involved in the project, which was fully completed in three days.
Print North East had to complete the project quickly to ensure that it could deliver the brochures in time for the hotel to attend a specialist weddings exhibition.
“The digital option eliminated any need for drying, significantly reducing production times, which was essential to meet the hotel’s tight deadline,” said Gilbert.
“We were also a bit concerned at first about whether the PUR glue would adhere to the pearlescent paper when binding it but we ran it through test sheets beforehand and we had no issues at all.”
Vermont Hotel general manager Shadia Hernandez said: “The attention to detail given to our wedding brochure is a representation of the care our couples are given throughout their wedding planning journey.”
Print North East has 15 staff and a turnover of just under £1m.
