Presstek installation meets short print run demand

Potts Printing and Packaging, a UK commercial printer in Northumberland, has installed a Presstek 52DI-AC digital offset press with an inline aqueous coater.

This firm has added the 52DI-AC press to its portfolio of conventional offset presses to better address the growing demand for shorter print runs that were inefficient to produce on Potts' larger-format presses.

As a result, the company has not only filled that gap, but has been able to make its conventional presses more efficient.

Shaun Johnson, managing director of Potts, said: 'With two large-format six-colour offset presses and a small format two-colour press it was obvious that we were in need of a device that would allow us to bridge our short-run colour print capabilities.

'A market investigation revealed that the Presstek 52DI-AC was the best fit for our needs, especially in runs of 10,000 or below.

'In addition, we are able to print very high quality on thicker stocks than toner-based digital presses allow.

'This opens up many new opportunities for us, including short-run packaging.

'We also learned that once the sheet exits the press and in-line aqueous coater, we can take the work directly to bindery without the wait time associated with drying,' he added.

Presstek said that the 52DI-AC press supports flood (full page) and spot aqueous coating.

Spot aqueous coating, when applied to specific areas, such as individual images or text, produces a dramatic effect with those items appearing to literally 'pop off' of the page.

Its on-press plate imaging and automated systems make the 52DI-AC suitable for producing runs of 500 to 20,000 with minimal make-ready time and waste.

Its environmental footprint is small, with no chemistry and a waterless printing process.

Dan Tobin, business development director at Potts, said: 'We had been producing a great deal of business cards, short-run leaflet flyer work and booklet covers on our Heidelberg CD74 six-colour press with a coater.

'What the 52DI-AC has allowed us to do is migrate most of that work to the DI and release the Heidelberg machine for work that is more suited to its capabilities, making both presses more profitable,' he added.

Back to top