The National Printing Skills Centre (NPSC) has formally launched its new professional digital printing courses in collaboration with Ikon Office Solutions under the banner "Printing a Digital Perspective".

They announced their partnership last month, which included 500,000 of sponsorship from Ikon (PrintWeek, 9 November).

This included a Canon ImageRunner 110, capable of producing 2m prints per month, and a T/R MicroPress cluster printing system. The kit will be put through its paces when the courses start in January.

NPSC marketing co-ordinator Jo Taylor said: "There has already been a great deal of interest in the courses. Theyre short vocational courses designed to provide practical help to employees and business."

Taylor added that they were designed to complement the centres other industry training in desktop publishing, design, graphics, internet, litho, flexo, finishing and platemaking.

"Most people are sent by their companies over a few days. What well do is have small groups of four at a time," said Taylor.

The NPSC also boasts a five-colour Heidelberg SM52, four-colour MOV/P Heidelberg, two-colour MAN Roland 200, a six-colour narrow web flexo press from Focus Label Machinery, and Muller, Stahl and Polar finishing kit.

The centres other sponsors include Adobe, Agfa, Akzo Nobel Inks, Bacher, GCC Technologies, Cheshire Engraving Services, Day International, Focus Label Machinery, Gerhardt, Heidelberg, Imation UK and James Walker Airedale.

Story by John Davies