CTP And Workflow Systems Set Scene For Expansion

PMS Printers is taking a Heidelberg Prosetter visible light CTP system with Metadimension workflow and Signastation imposition software.

PMS Printers is taking a Heidelberg Prosetter visible light CTP system with Metadimension workflow and Signastation imposition software.

The company is beefing up its pre-press in readiness for expansion, following a move from a 900 sq ft premises to a 4,000 square foot factory nearby in Sydenham (UK) and its five best months to date.

If the surge in business continues, PMS hopes it will be able to buy a five-colour Speedmaster SM 52 and an additional guillotine within 18 months that will be Prinect networked.

Glyn Limpenny, managing director, said: "We are not from a print background so we don't concern ourselves with how lead times used to be.

We just know that we have to deliver to the times, quality and cost demanded in today's market." The company is investing in pre-press because it recognises that the origination stages dictate the quality output further down the line.

PMS did not look beyond Heidelberg because its experience with its equipment, which includes a SM52-2 and a QM 46, has been so good.

"This pre-press package will give us better quality, labour saving and we can buy it for little more than we paid for our folder in terms of monthly repayments," said Limpenny.

"Everything we have bought form Heidelberg does exactly what they said and when we have had a breakdown the downtime is minimal because they have such responsive service," he added.

The company considered a polyester CTP system but dismissed the idea because it is attracting new work (about three contracts a week are being added even without a salesman) with longer runs, typically 20,000 to 100,000.

It also has a lot of repeat work and here again the metal option means plates can be reused.

The company is open 8am to 6pm as standard but standard is rare and the team works flexibly, even through the night, to fulfil customer demands.

The company has its own PC and Mac design facilities and cut-fold-stitch services in-house.

Back to top