Installing a Ricoh Pro C9500 toner press to replace one of a pair of C9200s used for direct mail, Platinum also purchased an Autobond B1 double-sided laminator, a Polar N 115 high-speed guillotine and an ATS MSX 420 bander. All machines were installed over February and March.
“We’d usually invest in something new that we couldn’t do before. But I thought, rather than do that, let’s do [our current work] a bit better and a bit faster,” Anthony Wyvill told Printweek.
The refurbished Autobond laminator has made for a particular difference to the firm’s finishing speeds, an area where there used to be a “bit of a bottleneck”.
Replacing a single-sided D&K Europa semi-automatic laminator, it has made for a “big step up”, at least quadrupling the machine’s potential output – and even up to eight times faster, when operating double sided.
“We do laminating all day, every day. It’s a big step up: we’ve always wanted an Autobond, which we think is the best laminator you can get,” Wyvill said.
“Obviously there are issues with getting labour at the moment, so if you can do more, faster, with the same number of people – then that helps.”
The brand-new Polar N 115 guillotine should run significantly faster than the firm’s 20-year-old Polar N 92 as well, aided by the potential to set up automatic cutting programs.
Platinum’s new Ricoh Pro C9500 will help the firm cut running costs in its direct mail department, and will join the firm’s other C9200 to print mailing work. Platinum also runs an HP Indigo 12000 B2 inkjet for packaging and flat sheet work, as well as a Komori five-colour litho press with coater that handles the bulk of its commercial work.
The ATS bander has joined another of the same model to help ease bottlenecks at the end of the production process.
“We were packing all day, and we’re now using [paper] bands as it’s more eco-friendly than shrinkwrapping. We were all fighting over the one machine so it just made sense to buy a new one,” Wyvill said.
Altogether, the machines have helped boost productivity across the business for a total investment of £260,000.
“We hadn’t really invested in the past year or so,” added Wyvill.
“We usually like to invest each year, but I think our last machine was our Moll [Vantage 720, installed in 2022].
“We were looking around for various pieces, but there was nothing that jumped out at us at the time. Obviously, things were still a bit unstable [economically].”
After a good 2023/24 financial year, ending in September, Wyvill decided it was time to tweak the firm’s kit lineup to ensure it was up to speed.
“We had a good financial year last year, and we started this year very well. We reached pre-Covid levels a couple of years ago, and we’re growing again now. Things look promising,” he said.
Platinum aims to turn over £5m this year, up from £4.5m. It employs a team of 35 at its Harrogate factory, which covers about 2,800sqm.
