Product category:
Printing Pre-Press Systems and Materials (Repro, Platemakers, CTP, Workflow, Document Management, Design Software, etc.)
News Release from: Screen Europe | Subject: Platerite 4300S platesetter, Trueflow workflow
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 February 2008
Platesetter's 45% Saving After Ousting
Silver CTP
UK litho printer Hypacolour has reduced its costs by 45 per cent after replacing its silver CTP system with a Screen Platerite 4300S platesetter and Trueflow workflow system.
Screen, which also supplied an SAL autoloader, said that Hypacolour has been able to reduce the amount of raw materials it uses, as well as the volume of consumables and chemicals it wastes As a result, the company is saving GBP1,250 each month
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 13 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Thermal CTP Doubles Plate Production At Print Firm
By upgrading its violet CTP operation to a thermal system from Screen, Jason Print and Design has doubled plate production at its Hertford (UK) site.
Dainippon Thermal CTP for Fine Colour Packaging
Nottingham printer and carton manufacturer, Fine Colour Packaging has invested in its first B1 thermal computer-to-plate system with Dainippon Screen's Platerite 8000.
Hypacolour decided to improve its pre-press department because the six year-old workflow system that the Screen equipment replaced was unable to reliably manage all PDF files.
The company initially intended to run Screen's Trueflow software with its existing silver CTP system but at the last minute it decided to complement the new workflow system with a new thermal platesetter.
Grant Horton, Hypacolour's managing director, explained: "Switching to the Screen's Platerite 4300S platesetter and Trueflow workflow system has allowed us to cut costs in many more areas of the business than we initially expected.
Further reading
Dainippon Thermal CTP For Imega Print
Imega Print who service design and marketing companies, has bought its first Screen B1 thermal Dainippon Platerite 8000 CTP system with Trueflow workflow software.
London Repro House Buys First Dainippon System
Dainippon Screen has completed the first installation of its Platerite 8100 at newly formed trade repro company, PDF Graphics in London.
First Dainippon Multi-Format CTP At Bemrose Booth
Specialist and secure print services group Bemrose Booth has ordered the UK's first Dainippon Screen Ultima multi-format computer to plate system, as part of its strategy to increase automation.
For instance, thermal plates are cheaper than silver and they are also extremely durable so they last longer and can be stored to be used in future.
This means we now get more use out of each plate we buy." He added: "In addition to this, thermal plates can be imaged in normal conditions, unlike silver coated plates, which need a dark room.
Like many printers, we didn't use controlled conditions when imaging our silver plates and instead we just exposed the top plate of a pack of 50 to daylight.
Of course, that would be useless because they would be thrown away.
We have worked out that we used to waste around 20 silver plates per month by doing this.
We are now able to use all the plates in the pack and this alone is saving us around GBP1,000 a year." He said that the company has calibrated its Epson proofer with the Screen platesetter and its Heidelberg Speedmaster press, which has improved processes so that costs are lower and quality has increased.
Horton commented: "Although we were very happy with our existing silver CTP system, the benefits of thermal technology to our business are glaringly apparent.
For example, the Platerite 4300S is capable of processing up to 20 plates per hour, which has increased our platemaking capabilities by a third.
With Screen technology we also have the option to use processless plates if we decide to in the future, which will further improve our productivity." In addition to keeping costs to a minimum, Horton added that he is also dedicated to ensuring the company operates on an environmentally sound basis.
Through using fewer chemicals than its silver-based counterpart, Screen's Platerite 4300S supports the company's ecological objective by using fewer chemicals and, as a result, the platesetter requires less cleaning than the original system.
And Horton continued: "The coatings used on the silver-based plates meant an employee would spend about three hours a week maintaining our old system and it wasn't a pleasant job by any means.
In contrast, the Platerite requires cleaning out about once every two months and that will be even less if we decide to implement a processless operation." He explained: "That has helped us significantly cut back on machine downtime, which makes the Platerite 4300S a far more productive option.
In addition, our employees are thrilled that they don't have to de-gunk the machine on a regular basis, as they did in the old days." Hypacolour was established in 1997 and has an annual turnover of GBP600,000.
The company provides full colour commercial printing, such as business stationery and brochures for small businesses and multi-national companies in a variety of sectors.
• Screen Europe: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Printingtalk email newsletter
• Printingtalk Home Page
