30% Production Increase From Thermal Platesetter

Durability and efficiency were on top of Printwright's agenda when it looked to upgrade its pre-press division, so the company installed Screen's Platerite 8800II thermal platesetter.

Durability and efficiency were on top of Printwright's agenda when it looked to upgrade its pre-press division, so the company installed Screen's Platerite 8800II thermal platesetter.

Since then, the company has seen plate production increase by 30 per cent, said Screen.

Grant Wright, owner of Printwright in Ipswich (UK) said: "The Platerite 8800II was so ideally matched to our needs that we knew straight away we had found the best system for us.

It was Screen's reputation in the marketplace that initially attracted us to the Platerite series and a number of design features that led us to the 8800II." The Platerite 8800II incorporates grating light valve (GLV) technology and is claimed to be capable of imaging up to 30 B1 plates per hour.

Wright added: "GLV technology means the 8800II's drum rotates at a far slower speed compared to alternative models.

This greatly reduces the amount of noise it creates and also makes for less wear and tear on the moving parts, so I am especially confident of the system's durability.

The 8800II has improved our working environment considerably - it is so clean and quiet that it is even possible to house the machine in an office, next to employees working on computers in the pre-press studio." Printwright's future plan is to maximise plate throughput on the Platerite 8800II, by installing a multi-cassette loader, which will allow the company to image plates throughout the night, ready for press in the morning.

Wright explained: "We are constantly taking steps to improve our business so we can offer reduced lead-times and a better service to our customers.

Each new process we adopt has a knock-on effect through the company and has a beneficial impact on our business.

Take, for example, the in-line punching capabilities of the Platerite 8800II system.

We calculate that, by automatically producing accurately punched plates that are ready to go straight on to the press, using CIP4 it is possible to save up to GBP19,000 a year in operator costs and wastage." And he further commented: "This will then enable us to put the money back in to future growth and so the cycle of saving and investing continues.

This formula has proven extremely successful and has put us out in front as one of the leading printing companies in East Anglia." Family-owned Printwright, which was established in 1988, has a turnover of GBP2.5million and employs 36 staff.

As well as providing commercial print services on Heidelberg two-colour and five-colour presses, Printwright specialises in book and catalogue printing on its five-colour B1 Mitsubishi press.

The Screen system replaces a Trendsetter system and is linked to the company's existing Prinect Printready workflow with a Harlequin RIP, also supplied by Screen.

The company also offers a digital printing service on a B3 Xerox printer and owns a full finishing and bookbinding department, which includes systems from Heidelberg, Horizon and Muller Martini.

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