NEWS FRONT

DORSET DIGITAL INVESTS IN NEW MORGANA AUTOCREASER

Dorset Digital Print Ltd, based in Wimborne, has enhanced its print finishing capabilities with the addition of a Morgana AutoCreaser Pro 50.

The creasing machine has replaced an ageing DigiFold, and is being used to crease both litho and digital work produced by the company.

Commenting on the purchase, Debbie Summers, Joint Director of the company, said: “We put it to work as soon as it was installed, creasing a six page A4 brochure! A creaser is a critical tool in order to produce a clean well folded printed product.”

Dorset Digital Print needed to carry on producing during the Covid-19 lockdowns of the crazy last year: “It’s been tough, but, as we needed to produce print items for the local hospitals, it was essential. As directors, we have had to put a lot of hours in ourselves of course, whilst using the flexifurlough scheme to ensure that we had enough staff to handle the work as it came to us.

“Like everyone else, we are looking forward to a return to something approaching normal in the near future. Up to last March things were going wonderfully for us as a company, and then, like many others, the work largely dried up.

“Thankfully, we were able to help some customers by producing shorter runs of work via our digital printing service, rather than the long runs that they might have normally ordered. We are looking forward to the long runs returning very soon.”

The AutoCreaser Pro 50 provides the complete solution to the problem of cracking that can occur when folding digitally printed output. It is equally effective in dealing with conventionally printed card, laminates or cross-grained stock. The machine employs Morgana’s unique creasing rule and matrix that eliminates tearing and, therefore, cracking of the printed image.

The intuitive seven inch SmartScreen controls all the main functions of the AutoCreaser Pro 50. Using the screen is simplicity itself. Key in the sheet length (popular sizes are pre-set), touch the fold type for the finished product, and press the green button. The AutoCreaser Pro 50 will then automatically calculate where the creases need to be and set them accordingly.

The unit can produce up to 16 creases per sheet, on stock from 0.4mm, and can run at up to 8,500 sheets per hour.

The AutoCreaser Pro 50 is part of a range of equipment at Dorset Digital for folding, trimming, die-cutting, padding, wire-o binding, drilling, stab stitching and saddle stitching. “High quality printing is important, but that then needs fast and efficient finishing to a high standard to complete the work,” added Debbie. The company also offers its postpress expertise as a trade service for other local print businesses.

Other services offered by Dorset Digital Print include graphic design, from a new logo or corporate branding through to full colour brochures or catalogues; and large format printing, from shop signage through to promotional banners.

The list price for the AutoCreaser Pro 50 is £13,490.

www.dorsetdigitalprint.co.uk www.morgana.co.uk

DOCUMENTING MODERN HISTORY ON ANTALIS PAPERS

A fascinating insight into children’s responses to the Covid-19 pandemic has been printed on a selection of papers from Antalis.

Jonny Banger, designer and owner of subversive fashion label Sports Banger, invited young people under the age of 16 to express their feelings about the pandemic by designing a poster using the letter sent by Boris Johnson to the nation’s homes in March 2020, advising households to ‘stay at home’, as the medium. The overwhelming response received has led to an exhibition and production of a 352 page book; The Covid Letters – A Vital Update is a unique printed book documenting the artwork and sharing the remarkable insight into how children feel about this extraordinary moment in time.

Originally, the book was to be printed in Eastern Europe, but Jonny Banger looked to source a reliable printer closer to home. A recommendation brought Banger to London based Gavin Martin Colournet. On receiving the brief, Gary Bird, Managing Director of Gavin Martin, consulted Antalis to source papers that were comparable to those originally specified, as he was confident their extensive range would include ideally suited products.

For the book’s cover, Gary recommended Keaykolour Deep Black in 300gsm, a rich black with recycled content and carbon balanced by Antalis UK. This product offered the look and feel Jonny Banger was hoping for whilst also meeting environmental requirements.

The inside pages were printed on Claro Bulk 130gsm. Gary commented on his selection, “Most of the children’s submissions were artwork with lots of colour and so it was important that we were able to reproduce these as faithfully as possible. We wanted a coated paper with a true matt texture and Claro Bulk fulfilled these criteria perfectly”.

Alongside the artwork are index cut pages which feature some of the letters from parents that accompanied the entries. Printed on a lightweight pale pink paper, the look and format of these pages was designed to change the pace of the book. For this, Gary chose Image Coloraction in Tropic Pale Pink, an uncoated multifunctional paper.

Produced in a limited run of 800 copies, The Covid Letters sold out quickly. Both Gary Bird and Jonny Banger were delighted with the result.

www.antalis.co.uk

PROFILE OF THE MONTH: ELMSTOK

Digital Print Finishing, Document Presentation Equipment and Supplies.

With over 40 years of experience, Elmstok are proud to be a main supplier of various types of document presentation, binding, laminating and other print finishing products.

The extensive range of specialised products are suited to a range of industries, including quick print pros, schools, colleges, universities, marketing/design departments and public sector organisations.

Elmstok offer brand new, ex-showroom and previously used machines, which change on a daily basis.

Customer service available seven days a week.

01945 463434 • Out of hours 07876 201288 www.elmstok.co.uk

HALSTAN STRENGTHENS ITS PRINTING PROPOSITION

Halstan has purchased a varioPRINT iX3200, following the successful implementation of a

Canon varioPRINT i300 in 2019. The new device will offer high quality colour book production, whilst improving overall efficiency and increasing capacity.

An international fourth generation family run printers and specialist book producer, Halstan was founded by Harold Smith in 1919 – and today, is led by his great grandson, Rupert Smith. Historically known for its sheet music printing, the business has evolved in recent years and now offers, alongside sheet music, a wide range of book products including educational textbooks, mainstream books, notebooks and other high quality publications. Its headquarters reside in Amersham, with additional sites in Germany and the USA.

Halstan has been working with Canon UK & Ireland for a number of years to support its growth and diversification. Following its investment in a Canon imagePRESS device and varioPRINT TITAN toner technologies in late 2018, the business then purchased a Canon varioPRINT i300 in 2019. This resulted in greatly improved efficiencies in Halstan’s existing workload, whilst also attracting business from a range of new customers.

Halstan has once again prioritised its investment plans with the purchase of a Canon varioPRINT iX3200, which will help support its growth ambitions even further. The device offers customers the ability to print on a variety of standard offset coated and uncoated media and textures – whilst also retaining the highest levels of colour quality and consistency. These features will allow Halstan to greatly increase its production capacity and offer its customers outstanding products.

Rupert Smith, CEO of Halstan, commented: “We strongly believe in developing partnerships with our customers, and finding the best solutions for them. Canon very much backs this ethos, and truly understands the goals we have as a business. The latest purchase will provide us with the additional capacity we need to grow our offering further. And, the print quality and stock diversity of the new system will take Halstan into new markets – a proposition I’m really excited by.

“There are constant demands from the market for shorter print runs and quicker turnarounds. This purchase, combined with new investments in our bindery, mean that we will be able to produce the highest quality colour perfect bound, threadsewn, ota-bound and saddle-wired products in short runs. This will all be driven by automated workflow solutions, which can be linked through to our client’s own ordering systems. This is not only helping them to de-stock, but also to generate efficiencies through the automation of print purchasing operations”.

www.canon.co.uk

BTP CRAFTSCREEN UPDATES FINISHING WITH PERFECTA 168 SPRINGTIME = PLANT-YOURPENCIL TIME

BTP Craftscreen has updated its cutting capabilities with investment in an IFS-supplied baumannperfecta 168 guillotine.

Established in 1987, the Coventry operation specialises in high quality screen printing and large format digital print for retail theatres and other promotional campaigns.

It made the investment to replace an aging Dexter Lawson solution and to run alongside another Perfecta 168.

“We already had a Perfecta so investing in a second system was the natural choice when it was time to replace the Dexter Lawson,” explains Director Russell Inglis. “It was getting to the point where we wouldn’t be able to get parts for the older guillotine. We have work on both systems all the time and couldn’t afford to not have them both running.

“The Perfecta was the natural choice. We knew how consistent and reliable it would be and that it would handle the work. It is doing the job just as we expected.”

The high speed baumannperfecta 168 is ideally suited to a wide range of materials including paper, board, films and foils. The user friendly intuitive Perfecta Cutpit makes the processing of various jobs simple and centrally monitors working processes before, during and after cutting for smooth and efficient workflow. The system’s doubly enclosed cast-iron machine frame provides stability and its ServoDrive guarantees precise positioning of the cutting material. Its slotless cutting table facilitates gentle stock handling while its knife changing device, with two-point support, stabilises the knife and prevents unwanted movement.

Russell adds: “The computer makes a huge difference in the set up and the air bed makes paper handling easy. It is top notch.”

www.ifsl.uk.com Finally, Spring is in the air after what seems to

be an endless winter. The sunshine and warmer temperature make it the perfect time to plant your Sprout pencils.

The trick to successfully growing flowers, herbs or trees is not to plant the pencil stub too deeply – the capsule should just be covered by soil. This way, the seeds get enough light from the beginning.

Sprout are also part of a campaign for brand Garden Gourmet. Garden Gourmet is all about delicious plant-based food.

Garden Gourmet’s purpose is to make people fall in love with all the goodness of plant-based food because it’s good for them and also for the planet.

And what better way to communicate this than with Sprout pencils that grow into basil, cherry tomatoes and thyme? If you have any garden centres amongst your customer base why not suggest they sell pencils?

www.sproutworld.com

Mimaki has unveiled its Innovation Days (2-4 June 2021), a collaborative virtual event, bringing together Mimaki’s regional offices to encourage and

nurture innovation in the printing sector. The programme of events, led by experts from Mimaki Japan, USA and Europe, will focus on addressing the needs of customers and prospects in their local markets, as well as demands across sectors (sign graphics, industrial, textile and 3D) to overcome today’s challenges and drive success within the industry. Attendees will also have the opportunity to further explore the newest additions to Mimaki’s product portfolio, the JFX550, JFX600 and SUJV-160, through live demonstrations following the launch of these solutions at virtual.drupa.

Initiated by the Mimaki Print Festival last year, Mimaki continues to expand its online events programme to support and connect with partners and customers globally. Using a custom online platform, visitors to the Innovation Days will be able to attend live demonstrations of Mimaki’s latest products, have access to special promotions, watch webinars, meet and chat to Mimaki experts, and engage in roundtable discussions.

In addition, this joint venture between regional offices offers visitors the unique chance to explore the Mimaki headquarters, with virtual tours of the HQ factory in Japan and the chance to engage with exclusive greetings from the president during the event. Mimaki Europe, USA and Japan will also have targeted, regional event agendas, open to local print service providers or those outside the region who are looking for greater insight into the global printing industry.

“Throughout 2020, Mimaki prioritised our customers, partners and the wider industry, offering online support, education and networking in the absence of in-person tradeshows and showroom tours. As the impact of the pandemic continues into 2021 for many, so does the need for the printing industry to work together and inspire each other to succeed”, Danna Drion, General Marketing Manager EMEA, comments. “With Innovations Days, we very much wanted to recreate the lively, innovative space of a tradeshow as much as possible. Over these few days, Mimaki experts and the public alike will come together to share collective expertise, engage in discussion, and showcase the application possibilities achievable with brand new Mimaki technologies. We have seen many businesses expand or completely shift their portfolios to new sectors during the pandemic, and we hope to support and encourage those undergoing or considering change.”

Leading up to the Innovation Days, Mimaki Europe has also released another virtual initiative, Mimaki Digital Showroom, to engage with its customers. This virtual space mirrors the traditional showroom where Mimaki’s customers and prospects will be able to experience the technologies in action and speak to the team about the latest market trends and the solutions that could help them meet current demands. The Mimaki Digital Showroom project is part of the company’s efforts to stay side by side with the digital printing community and commitment to adding value and keeping developing the online experiences.

www.innovationdays.mimaki.com • www.hybridservices.co.uk

N3 DISPLAY GRAPHICS STAYS ONE STEP AHEAD

Large format graphics production and installation company N3 Display Graphics recently used Drytac Polar Street FX aluminium print media to produce a range of eye-catching outdoor floor graphics to promote social distancing across the city of Bristol.

Bristol City Council designed a series of 2m x 1.1m (6.36ft x 3.6ft) footprint style graphics for use in high traffic areas of the city ahead of non-essential shops reopening. Shops in England had been closed since early January due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The aim of the graphics was to encourage social distancing among shoppers when they were out and about on the high street, helping to limit any further spread of the virus. As such, Bristol City Council required an attractive design that would stand out under shoppers’ feet.

The printed graphics also had to be safe for use underfoot. The Council specified they should have a proper slip rating, meaning they were safe for use in busy areas that could be exposed to wet weather, including high streets and other retail settings

To meet these challenges, the Council turned to N3 Display Graphics, a Bristol based company that specialises in large format graphics for both indoor and outdoor use. As a long time user of Drytac materials, N3 Display Graphics quickly identified Drytac Polar Street FX as the ideal solution for the project.

Polar Street FX is a PVC-free, aluminium print media suitable for both outdoor floor and wall graphics, without the need for lamination. The slip resistant printable film can be applied to ground or wall surfaces such as brick, concrete, asphalt or any other low energy surfaces. Polar Street FX holds a ‘Low Slip Potential’ 72 PTV according to the EN 13036-4 Pendulum Test. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) only recognises slip ratings based on the Pendulum Test Method.

N3 Display Graphics Director Nigel Walker explains: “The Council specified that we use aluminium backed slip rated material so Polar Street FX was the ideal choice for the job.”

N3 Display Graphics cut the graphics into the curved footprint shape with its Zünd cutter with double edged tungsten blades, which was easily able to handle the strong wearing nature and toughness of the Polar Street FX aluminium backing.

In terms of working with Drytac, N3’s Nigel Walker adds: “We have a long history of mutual respect with Drytac, and they always have the right products at the right price.”

The Bristol footprint graphics have been a great success. Nigel continues: “After a month out on the streets, the graphics are all standing up well and are helping people to return to shopping safely.

www.drytac.com

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