The specialist in high-end, short-run digital printing, for more than 20 years, is taking on work from a wider range of market sectors and brands.
“Such an evolution has put pressure on our existing MIS system,” said managing director Iain Moring. “Our existing MIS is not sophisticated enough to allow us to progress.
“We used to be focused on short-run work – five or ten beautiful boxes or books. We still do that and it’s very important to us. But we now have runs of 500 or a 1,000 on these sorts of projects.
“Therefore, planning and integration of processes is much more important than it was. It has become a big challenge to ensure our factory is running as efficiently as possible.”
Moring added: “Installation will take many months and cost anything from £60,000 to £100,000 by the time it's fully installed.
“Our old system, PrintCost, was good but installed 15 to 20 years ago and we now need the support and flexibility of a larger organisation like Tharstern.
His 120-staff, £9m-turnover company in London does laser cutting, digital print enhancement and digital foiling for creative clients. Kit includes an HP Indigo 10000 and Indigo 7600.
Screaming Colour researched the market before viewing a demonstration of the Tharstern MIS at a Dscoop event in Dublin in 2015.
Moring said: “Every digital printer is different and what we need is going to be bespoke. Tharstern has the resources and experience for the successful implementation and ongoing support.”
The Tharstern MIS, which will include CRM, scheduling and electronic job bags, will be installed in phases over several months at Screaming Colour, starting in two weeks' time.
The diverse nature of jobs produced means Tharstern’s MIS will help Screaming Colour to refine its production processes and improve efficiency, Moring said.
“The ability to put your finger on your progress with a job at any one time is more and more important,” said Moring. “We have a lot of information that’s currently in very skilled people’s heads, and we’ve got to get to that information much more quickly.”
Last year Screaming Colour announced it was moving production from Slough to south London in a major investment that included the Indigo 10000.
It previously had its specialist boxmaking and paper over board division in Slough, Berkshire, but wanted to move operations closer to its headquarters in Clerkenwell.
Tharstern managing director Keith McMurtrie said: “Screaming Colour is one of the UK’s freshest-thinking and fastest-rising digital printing operations, with a unique range of services.
“As they continue to break new ground, the Tharstern MIS will provide the clarity and control they need to achieve the perfect mix of innovation and efficiency.”
