Prepress
Scotia Press brings plates in-house with Screen PlateRite 4300E
Thursday 27. August 2009 - SCOTIA PRESS SEES SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS AS IT BRINGS PLATES IN HOUSE WITH SCREEN PLATERITE 4300E
Scotia Press, a B2 commercial printer in Leicester, has seen immediate financial benefits from its new Screen PlateRite 4300E, which it has installed to service its five-colour Komori Lithrone 26.
“We got a grant from the East Midlands Development Agency, and along with the great deal Screen offered us, we are actually saving money by having the brand new kit,” says managing director Peter Welford. The company previously outsourced its platemaking to the tune of up to £5,000 a month.
The company chose the PlateRite as it knew Screen had a reputation for good quality and reliable equipment. “We also put in a Single Auto Loader which has made a huge difference. Its a real boon to be able to leave it producing plates overnight,” says Peter. “Its so reliable that we can just set it off and the next day there can be 100 plates sitting there waiting to go.” The SA-L4300II also includes de-interleaving, punching and an easy plate remake facility.
The installation went smoothly despite having to be craned in through a first floor window. “The engineers were really professional and the whole process only took two hours,” says Peter.
The arrival of the platesetter also marked Scotia Press first venture into workflow, with the addition of Trueflow Rite, and the staff are quickly finding their way around it. “Trueflow is very user-friendly,” says Peter. “After a days training, we were up and running and making plates straightaway. There were no teething troubles at all.”
Scotia Press is very pleased with the success it has had with bringing its platemaking inhouse and attributes much of that success to the quality of Screens products and services. “The site visits and installation were as good as its products and it all went like a dream,” says Peter.
The company is following a programme to improve its environmental credentials and the processless platesetter fits in well with its plans. With greater control it can achieve better quality as it works towards BS8555 and ultimately ISO 14001. “We want to provide our customers with the best possible quality and service,” says Peter. “If things go well with the new equipment, we will think about upgrading the press and moving to better premises.”