Thermal CTP Makes Printer 5 Times More Productive

The Jarvis Print Group in Manchester (UK) has commissioned a thermal CTP system from Screen in its pre-press department, which is now five times more productive than before.

The new system comprises a Platerite 4300E thermal platesetter, with autoloader, stacker, Trueflow V4 workflow system, Epson 7800 proofing system and Labproof software.

Andy Bennett, the reprographics manager at The Jarvis Print Group, said that it is possible for the company to now complete what was once a two-hour job in 15 minutes.

Plate output has been increased by the speed of the Platerite 4300E, which can image up to 11 units per hour, said Screen.

In addition, The Jarvis Group has further boosted plate production by installing Screen's automatic plate loader and stacker unit, which feeds the Platesetter, unmanned, with up to 50 plates.

That means that even though employees have left for the day, plate production can still continue in to the night.

As well as benefiting from increased plate production, The Jarvis Print Group has streamlined its workflow by implementing the latest version of Screen's Trueflow software.

In addition to its new Komori 529 B2 press, The Jarvis Print Group owns two Heidelberg SRA3 printers and produces mono, two-colour and full-colour work for the Catholic Church, advertising agencies, healthcare companies, such as BUPA and other companies.

The company has 20 employees and an annual turnover of GBP2 million.

Andy Bennett said: "It's staggering how much sleeker the pre-press department has become since investing in our new equipment from Screen.

We had to invest in the department because our printing capacity has considerably increased since taking on the new Komori press.

We have been very impressed with the overall productivity of the Screen system as it comfortably supplies the print room with the plates it needs to keep the presses running to a maximum." He explained: "Taking an automatic plate loading unit as an optional extra was a sure way of increasing our plate production.

Being able to run a job after hours is a useful way of meeting our targets.

However, some of the other automated features that come as standard on the Platerite 4300E.

such as the in-line punching facility, cut the processing time on each plate by a few minutes.

Such time savings make a significant difference to output when you produce over 100 units per day." Bennett said that with its logically designed interface, the Trueflow workflow is much easier to use than Jarvis's previous system, whilst the Screen system is simple to make amendments to individual pages without having to disrupt the entire file.

And he continued: "In addition, we are able to email RIPped proofs out to the customer at the touch of a button, whereas before we were only able to supply a PDF.

Screen's Labproof colour proofing software will also calibrate our two proofing devices with our three litho presses, meaning we will be able to supply accurate colour proofs to ensure the work we supply always matches the customer's expectations.".

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