 Absolute Digital Print, Kendal, Cumbria, has announced the installation of a conventional B2-format offset litho press, a Ryobi 784E, along with a Screen PlateRite 4300E thermal computer-to-plate system, to replace its Presstek 52DI machine. The press and platemaker package was supplied by UK Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics. Final sign-off on the equipment took place at IPEX on the Apex/Ryobi stand (Hall 6 Stand C560).
Commenting on the switch to standard litho production, Jon Wallbank, Managing Director of Absolute Digital, said: "We have been more than delighted with the work that we have produced on the Presstek machine, but we needed to move to four-up production due to capacity issues and customer demand. We examined all of our options, both digital and conventional, and the Ryobi package proposed by the team at Apex was the one that best suited our needs.
"The Ryobi 784 offers similar printing hardware to our previous Presstek DI, which is built around a Ryobi platform, and so the architecture and operation of the press were familiar to us on many levels. The six minute make-ready speeds shown to us in the Apex demonstration facility were a very important factor in our decision making as it is so important for us to still remain effective in the short run, quick turn round marketplace where we have carved our niche. The small footprint of the Ryobi 784E compact-B2 machine was another real bonus for us. Also the fact that the press is manufactured to ISO14001 standards sits well with our environmental stance and our own BSI ISO 14001 certification, a standard that we are always keen to promote to our customers," added Jon Wallbank.
Absolute Digital Print, founded in 2003, continues to offer digital production to its customers via its HP Indigo press and wide format printing services.
The introduction of the Screen PlateRite 4300E thermal computer-to-plate system, which will work with Fujifilm Brillia Pro-T processless plates, offers Absolute a significant environmental plus as it provides a totally chemistry free method of plate creation. The 4300E is able to produce up to 11 plates per hour at a resolution of 2,400 dots per inch. The company has also added Screen's Spectra hybrid screening solution with enables the production of ultra-fine halftone images and tints. "We have promoted the use of stochastic screening to our customers for a number of years, but this solution offers the best results yet," confirmed Jon Wallbank.
He was also impressed by the efficiency of the Apex Digital Graphics support team. "This is the first time that we have purchased a press from Apex, and they have been a great partner to deal with so far: very helpful, very knowledgeable and very supportive," added Jon Wallbank. |
