Cowan to step up to B2 production in the spring

Print Solutions

Cowan Print is excited as it plans to spring into B2 in May when it takes delivery of a Heidelberg Speedmaster SX74-5H. The company has had this in mind for some time and it was what spurred its move to 10,000 square foot premises in Kilsyth, near Glasgow, 14 months ago.

The company is replacing one of its two Speedmaster SX52 B3 presses which have been critical to the company’s growth.

‘The new press will open up new markets, increase our capacity and productivity,’ said managing director Craig Cowan. ‘Some people know us as a small printer but this will change that perception and will give us a chance to quote on even more trade and direct work.’

The new press will feature a high pile delivery and will be equipped with Easy Control, a spectral measurement device that will allow operators to colour match press side speedily and easily. Easy Control will automatically measure the print control strip and adjust the ink zones. Spot colours can be scanned into Easy Control from samples of printed colour cards as a reference and then be saved in the colour archive.

The Speedmaster SX 74 is ideal for printers requiring a workhorse to handle a range of jobs and material as it comes with an ‘expanded stock range’ option which allows the operator to adjust the transfer cylinder to accept heavier stocks. The high performance Prinect Press Center control station with the process oriented Intellistart operator guidance system automatically determines and implements the optimum process sequence for job changes. A new surface technology for the exchangeable jackets used on transfer cylinders – TransferJacket Blue – ensure a far longer service life and extended wash up intervals. This significantly increases the uptime of the equipment.

Clearly a press format change means a move to B2 CTP plate production but the clever Suprasetter technology is upgradable. By buying a license, Cowan Print can have its Suprasetter A52 converted into an A75 in just one day. This will be done by an engineer as the press is delivered. It is already an established user of Heidelberg’s Saphira plates.

The company also signed for an additional Polar guillotine, a 92 Pro, at the last Heidelberg open house and this has been delivered. This larger model runs alongside an established Polar 78.