5-Colour Lithrone Press In Lean Manufacturing Push

Manchester (UK) Jarvis Print has installed a five-colour Komori Lithrone S 29 press as part of its plans for lean manufacturing.

Manchester (UK) Jarvis Print has installed a five-colour Komori Lithrone S 29 press as part of its plans for lean manufacturing.

The Komori Lithrone S 529 press replaces a four-colour Heidelberg machine and it is running alongside a small waterless press.

Jarvis managing director Nigel Reeves signed the order at Workshop 06, the annual print event led by Komori, and said that the press will play an integral role in fulfilling the company's objectives.

Reeves's goal is a streamlined production line from pre-press through to finishing and he has invested in staff training to implement an effective 'pull-system', said Komori.

Jarvis Print has downsized from seven B3 presses in 2001 to running two machines this year, reducing overheads and manpower at the same time as increasing capacity.

Nigel Reeves bought Jarvis Print in 1988 and has grown the business year on year with director Michael Prior.

The company currently turns over GBP1.8 million and employs 22 staff, offering a complete colour printing service for everything from 100 business cards up to 500,000 brochures.

Reeves said: "I am absolutely delighted with the new Komori and we are already seeing the benefits even though the press has only been running for a couple of weeks.

I first saw a demonstration on the Lithrone 29 at Ipex which really impressed me and then again at Workshop 06, where I signed the order.

The attitude of Komori's sales and technical people has been refreshing, steering me away from features I don't need and explaining the technology in layman's terms.

As a new customer I have full confidence in Komori's service and back up support." Jarvis Print was one of the first printers in the industry to run CTP, it is claimed and it has plans to upgrade its proofing system in the next few months once the press is running at full speed.

The company recycles all waste and insists that suppliers take away the packaging from deliveries, aiming for on-demand delivery to eliminate the need for storage space.

The press is running alcohol-free and no chemicals are used in any machinery.

The company prints using soya based inks and on recycled paper where possible.

Reeves's attitude completely reflects Komori's ethos of delivering results beyond expectations, said the Japanese press manufacturer.

He said: "The quality of work the Komori is producing is spot on but quality and speed are non-negotiable.

I don't believe all orders are price driven - if we can offer our customers that bit extra such as guaranteed on time delivery, people are happy to take those benefits in to consideration.

The new press will enable us to increase our workload and take on new clients." And he added: "This investment is a big step for Jarvis Print but when you consider the volume of work we can put through the press it is the only way to go.

Komori offered me a good deal and the press fulfils our requirements for green button technology and full automation.

My next goal is to install an identical second production line to double capacity and efficiency within the next two years." Steve Turner, Komori UK's general sales manager for the north of the UK, commented: "Komori is thrilled to be working with such a forward thinking company as Jarvis Print and this is fantastic example of a printer being able to considerably reduce overheads, whilst increasing capacity due to Komori's unrivalled LS technology.

The press will be integral to Nigel's plans for streamlined manufacturing.".

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