Precision Colour Printing, have now taken delivery of the world’s first Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 long perfector press, with Inpress Control, the inline spectral measurement device that allows the press to automatically adjust the colour quality throughout the run. The new ten-colour B1 press went live for production in early August.
As part of The Claverley Group – Precision Colour Printing, the group’s commercial printing arm, has a strong heritage of innovation.
We specialise in business to business magazines and work in the tourism and leisure, public and newspaper sectors and serve print management and direct mail companies. We have a commercial turnover of over £32m and employ 270 people.
Alex Evans, managing director of Precision Colour Printing said “Heidelberg was right for us as a durable market leader with a well established press that other users verify does “exactly what it says on the tin. We were influenced by service levels, preventative support, the stability of partners and the opportunity for partnership building”
The logic of the purchase is clear. It replaces a five-colour Mitsubishi which has run around the clock for over 15 years to produce 20 million sheets a year. The SM 102 long perfector is not only twice the number of units, meaning single pass production, but a step change in output, so the company can run it on a 12 hour day to attain the same volume although the intention is to run the press round the clock.
“It’s a press that will help us reduce overheads and increase profit” said Alex, “we will use this press primarily for high volume cover work and short run (typically 6,000 to 8,000) magazines with grammages most often of 80 to 100gsm but ranging from 65 to 250gsm on occasion.
We handle about three multi-section magazines per shift, so 25 make-readies per hour would be quite normal. Inpress Control will allow us to get to print fast and to have reports of the colour control throughout the run, potentially eliminating the need for “on press” passes, which will save our publishing customers time and money”
Already the company holds ISO9001 Quality and ISO14001 Environmental accreditations and are fully PEFC and FSC certified but, over the next 18 months we hope to add ISO18001 Health and Safety and ISO12647 Colour Control ratings to our arsenal.
“In certain sectors it is now becoming a necessity to have ISO12647 in place to win business. With Inpress Control we don’t have to stop and pull running sheets. We will reduce make-ready times and waste, maximise production plus provide colour reports at the end of each job” said Alex.
Operators undertook colour training at Heildelberg UK’s national showroom in Tamworth prior to the installation of the press. The operators are pleased with the prospect of new investment in their department and a press where the colour control is easy. They will also enjoy good working conditions as the SM102 is specified with water cooled peripherals to create a standardised working environment. Waste heat will be taken out of the building in summer and redirected to heat other parts of the building in winter, saving energy.
“We take pride in the cleanliness of our Telford site and we like the aesthetics of the new machine. It fits in look as well as being a logical business buy.
