The B2 18,000sph press, which is specified with Inpress Control, has just been installed at the Belfast-based firm’s 1,115sqm premises. Print operators will move to full production by the end of the month, following the completion of training.
The company decided to replace a five-colour Speedmaster CD 74 after finding that demand for coating and varnishing was greater than the demand for spot colours.
“As this is our first coating press, the consumables consultation, support and back-up offered by Heidelberg UK made the investment in coating an easy decision to make,” said director Jamie McMinnis.
The automated register and colour monitoring and adjustment system Inpress Control has replaced the offline Axis Control spectral measurement at the business.
Production director Gary Davidson said: “This takes the guesswork out of printing and is of particular value with uncoated stocks where predicting the level of ink absorbency matters.
“Uncoateds have really taken off in the last couple of years. We believe that the waste saving we achieve with this tool will give us a payback on InPress Control within two years.”
The firm has recently seen increased demand for quicker turnarounds and shorter print runs. It believes that it will be able to attract new and more profitable work by branching into the fine art, advertising and design agency sectors with this press investment.
The company also operates Heidelberg GTO and Quickmaster offset presses, Xerox digital machines and HP and Mimaki wide-format equipment as well as a comprehensive range of finishing kit.
“This press, and the speed of makereadies made possible with InPress Control, will re-draw the lines between offset and our digital and wide-format services. Some more challenging work will automatically go to offset, even in very short runs,” said McMinnis.
The business is also adding a Suprasetter A 75 CTP device, to enhance its digital workflow, and plans to undertake Heidelberg’s ISO 12647-2 colour certification scheme to ensure high quality in every print run.
The press will undergo its Print Colour Management programme in March and that will be followed by ISO 12647-2 testing and then colour certification.
The firm is using Prinect workflow products across pre-press and press room areas and linking production to its Shuttleworth MIS. This helps efficiencies with JDF files pre-configuring settings and JMF feedback upstream.
The business considered linking in the folding but felt that the benefits were not great enough at this stage.
“It’s been tough for everyone, but we notice enquiry levels increasing and a greater willingness to pay for added-value or special finishes. We have also ventured into the cross-media market which has been well received by our customers,” said McMinnis.
The business is soon due to launch its new bespoke web to print site, Go Get Print, which it says will enable it to increase the range of products offered and a greater input within secure brand parameters.
Minprint produces a variety of commercial print including booklets, notepads, stickers, stationery, banners, POS and posters for a wide range of customers throughout the UK and Ireland.
