SRA2 Business Grows With Five-Colour Presses

Printmates has ordered two five-colour Komori Lithrone L526 presses, following the success of the SRA2 size Komori 26-inch Lithrone in the UK.

Printmates has ordered two five-colour Komori Lithrone L526 presses, following the success of the SRA2 size Komori 26-inch Lithrone in the UK.

The Surrey based commercial printer took delivery of the first press in November, while the second will be installed in April next year.

They will replace two existing four-colour Lithrone L426 models and will join a two-colour Komori Sprint.

"Printmates began by operating B2 sheet-fed presses.

However, when we analysed the amount of work we were actually handling, it soon became apparent that with only a handful of B2 jobs over several years, a 26- inch press would be much more suitable and cost effective.

When we installed our first Komori machine seven years ago, we chose a 26-inch four-colour Lithrone L426.

This proved perfect for our SRA2 orders and so we followed this with a second Lithrone L426 three years later," said Printmates' managing director Neil Martin.

The cost saving the company had made from investing in 26-inch presses had been significant, he added.

Many people fall into the trap of buying a B2 format machine when they dont need to, he believed.

"The new five-colour Lithrones will also give us the opportunity to take advantage of the latest developments in CIP3 and JDF.

We have been extremely pleased with the results achieved on the four-colour Lithrones, which regularly print top quality work at 13,000 sheets per hour (sph), on stock ranging from 60gm to 400gsm.

However, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to print four colours and a seal in one pass, which in turn will free up our two-colour Komori Sprint for dedicated two colour work," he added.

Since commissioning its first Komori press, he beleived the cmpany had not looked back.

"Komori's untarnished record in terms of delivering top quality presses and a high level of service and training has made our recent decision to invest further with them an easy one," he said.

Neil Martin took over as managing director of Printmates in 1994, a company which was founded by his father Colin Martin in 1984.

In addition to the Komori presses, Printmates also offers comprehensive pre-press and finishing facilities.

It predominantly serves the publishing market, printing a variety of magazines, inserts and leaflets and has customers throughout the South East.

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