The new press and pre-press equipment was installed at the Margate-based firm’s premises at the end of June.

The L-528 has replaced an older Komori four-colour machine, which was part exchanged. The firm retained another four-colour machine, a Komori L-426.

“The marketplace has changed a lot and we’ve got to be more competitive, and to do that we needed a quicker press. It’s made a big difference; our makereadies have fallen from an hour to 15 minutes, and the speed of the new press is a lot quicker,” said managing director Anthony Underwood.

Pre-press specialists Prepress UK installed the PressProfiler package onto the machine. PressProfiler examines digital files received from any workflow and generates ink key pre-setting data to save set-up time on an offset litho printing press at job changeover.

The StudioRIP Workflow was also supplied by Prepress UK. Truprint Media had been using an ageing Agfa Apogee workflow with its Agfa Palladio CTP system.

“The Apogee workflow that we had was very dated and was causing us problems. Fonts were going wrong and bits were missing off so we had to update that. We considered other Agfa workflows but there was a big difference in price,” said Underwood.

“We now have full data integrity from proof to plate and from proof to digital print. Handling files for production is now a fast and accurate operation, no matter how the files were originated. In addition, the fast, simple imposition system speeds up the processing of files, automatically working out pagination and delivering pages for printing.”

An additional laser upgrade to the Palladio will enable the firm to move to chemistry-free plates.

“That’s happening at the moment and will hopefully be installed in September. Add together the savings that we will make on the new breed of plates, the cost of buying chemistry, and the cost of having used chemistry removed, and it will virtually pay for the upgrade. The change will also mean enhanced environmental credentials for us as a business,” said Underwood.

Truprint Media, which employs 24 staff and has a turnover of £1.8m, produces a range of commercial print, including stationery, leaflets, brochures, newsletters, POS, calendars and folders for customers around the London and Kent areas.

In the near future it is looking to invest in wide-format machinery to bring currently outsourced services in this area in-house.