Fastest Finger First For Fingerprints' Printmaster

Fingerprints is taking delivery of a Printmaster QM 46 this week to complement its Quickmaster DI and to handle a fifth colour offline as well as a range of single colour and two-colour spot work.

Fingerprints is taking delivery of a Printmaster QM 46 this week to complement its Quickmaster DI and to handle a fifth colour offline as well as a range of single colour and two-colour spot work.

In making this investment the Barrow-in-Furness company will complete its exit from 82 production, having found that most of the jobs it received would be categorised as small offset.

So now the company will offer 83 traditional litho (including CTP and cutting, folding and booklet making) and also design and large format inkjet production.

The four-colour Quickmaster DI installed about six months ago was a swap for a four-colour SRA2 press and has resulted in a fivefold increase in throughput.

The QM 46-2 replaces two single colours, an SRA2 and an 83, and will also result in a productivity lift of about 25%.

Fingerprints' managing director Allan Kerr said: "We considered a lot of different manufacturers but came down in favour of the QM 46 because it works well with the DI and can handle spots or Pantone colours offline.

The minders are excited about the development.

Many of the controls will be similar to the DI and they were used to conventional ink-water printing prior to the waterless system on the DI so that will be no challenge at all." The company wants to build steadily as it has year on year over the past five years.

On its wish list at present is another press, possibly a five-colour with coater depending on how market needs change, but that is at least a year away, it believes.

Back to top