CTP - Computer to Plate
Prepress department now 500% more productive with Screen CtP
Friday 29. February 2008 - As part of a major regeneration programme; which complements the installation of a new Komori press; The Jarvis Print Group in Manchester has taken delivery of a thermal CTP system from Screen. The company reports its prepress department is now five times more productive as a result of the investment.
The new system comprises a PlateRite 4300E thermal platesetter, with autoloader, stacker, Trueflow V4 workflow, Epson 7800 proofing system and Labproof software. Andy Bennett, reprographics manager at The Jarvis Print Group, says that it is possible to complete what was once a two-hour job in just fifteen minutes.
“It’s staggering how much sleeker the prepress department has become since investing in our new equipment from Screen,” Mr Bennett says. “We had to invest in the department because our printing capacity has considerably increased since taking on the new Komori press. We have been very impressed with the overall productivity of the kit as it comfortably supplies the print room with the plates they need in order to keep the presses running to a maximum.”
Plate output has been increased by the speed of the PlateRite 4300E, which can image up to eleven units per hour. In addition, The Jarvis Group has further boosted plate production by installing Screen’s automatic plate loader and stacker unit. The equipment feeds the PlateSetter with up to fifty plates unmanned. This means that, even though employees have left for the day, plate production can still continue into the night.
“Taking an automatic plate loading unit as an optional extra was a sure way of increasing our plate production,” continues Mr Bennett. “Being able to run a job after hours is a useful way of meeting our targets. However, some of the other automated features that come as standard on the PlateRite 4300E; like for example the inline punching facility; cut the processing time on each plate by a few minutes. Such time savings make a significant difference to output when you produce around 100+ units per day.”
As well as benefiting from increased plate production, The Jarvis Print Group has streamlined its workflow by implementing the latest version of Screen’s Trueflow software. Mr Bennett says: “With its logically designed interface, the Trueflow workflow is much easier to use than our previous system and it is simple to make amendments to individual pages without having to disrupt the entire file. In addition, we are able to email RIP’d proofs out to the customer at the touch of a button whereas before we were only able to supply a PDF.
“Screen’s Labproof colour proofing software will also calibrate our two proofing devices with our three litho presses, meaning we will be able to supply accurate colour proofs to ensure the work we supply always matches the customer’s expectations.”
In addition to its new Komori 529 B2 press, The Jarvis Print Group owns two Heidelberg SRA3 printers and produces black and white, two-colour and full-colour work for the Catholic Church, advertising agencies, healthcare companies such as BUPA and other top performing companies. The company has 20 plus employees and an annual turnover of in excess of £2 million.