New CTP Increases Capacity At Commercial Printer

The Marstan Press, a firm of commercial printers located in Bexleyheath, Kent (UK) has installed a Presstek Dimension450 Excel computer-to-plate system.

The Marstan Press, a firm of commercial printers located in Bexleyheath, Kent (UK) has installed a Presstek Dimension450 Excel computer-to-plate system.

Presstek's CTP system is operating in tandem with the Presstek Dimension400 platesetter, which the company purchased almost six years ago.

Tony Chapman, production director at The Marstan Press, said: "When we installed the first platesetter, we knew that we would need a second machine in due course.

It made sense to go back to Presstek because we can run the two platesetters in tandem with full compatibility and benefit from buying the plates in volume from one supplier." The Marstan Press was the first commercial printer in the UK to install a Presstek Dimension400 platesetter, added the company.

Chapman commented: "We were attracted to it because we didn't want to use chemicals.

At the time it replaced a Linotype system, which was chemistry free and we didn't want to take a backwards step.

We've been totally reliant on it ever since to produce 2000 plates a month for our two five-colour B2 Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 presses and a single colour GTO press.

We decided to invest in a second platesetter to increase our hourly rate and reduce the overtime in our repro department." The company operates a round-the-clock service, 24 hours-a-day, six days-a-week and many Sundays.

Chapman explained: "We have a lot of blue chip financial customers to whom we offer a range of services, including project management, copywriting, artwork and design, printing bindery and a direct mail service.

Although the repro department only works a day shift, when we only had one platesetter, the staff there often had to work overtime to meet the demands of our presses." That no longer happens with two machines in production.

As well as giving the company more capacity, the new systems also have the flexibility that they was missing before.

Plates can be pre-loaded on the Dimension450 Excel, whilst the existing plate is being imaged on the drum.

That, together with the increased speed of 17 plates an hour, improves productivity by 40 per cent over the earlier unit.

In addition, the new platesetter has FM screening as an option, should it be require." He explained that the company's production environment, which has 24-hour working, cannot have jobs delayed during the night shift if there is a problem with a plate.

That is another reason why the Dimension appealed to The Marstan Press because the press minders can use it, if necessary.

And Chapman continued: "I know that we would have a lot of problems if they had to handle chemistry.

All the minders have to do is put them through a water wash and they are ready to go on press." And he added: "Presstek has made major advances with the technology since we bought our first Dimension.

The Dimension450 Excel uses fourth generation Profire Excel lasers, which produces a smaller spot size of 17micron, which is cleaner and sharper.

We've always been very pleased with the quality but we can see a big difference when we reprint a job because the definition is far superior.

We have decided to use the Dimension450 Excel for all process work in future.

Added to that, we are now using the new Anthem Pro plates, which makes for even more customer satisfaction with our work.".

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