Instant offset appeals to Corsham Print

Print Solutions

Corsham Print, the Wiltshire based print and design business, has announced an investment in the very latest LED-UV technology as it upgrades its Ryobi B3 format offset press to an RMGT 524GX machine, complete with automatic plate loading, and a direct CTP to press link for fast and accurate transfer of ink profile data.

‘LED-UV is having a major impact on offset technology in all formats,’ said Chris Perry, managing director of Corsham Print. The new press, destined for installation in October of this year, will provide the business with instantly dry print on delivery. ‘The instant drying and faster make ready times, thanks to the direct press to CTP link, will help us to take the load off of our digital machines – which sounds rather ironic, as these were the same reasons that we installed digital in the first place!’ The company currently runs two Ricoh digital devices as well as its Ryobi offset equipment.

‘There is a trend at the moment for work to be produced on uncoated stock. With offset this tends to mean adding extra ink in order to get a good image density as ink is absorbed by this type of substrate. That tends to up the ink consumption as well as extending the drying time. With LED-UV we will be able to cure instantly, thus reducing the ink consumption as well as eliminating the drying issue. As a by product, we will also eliminate the piles of offset work drying on the factory floor prior to backing up, or moving on to finishing,’ added Chris. ‘Yes, the LED-UV inks might be a little more expensive right now, but lower consumption and the added speed of moving work through the factory will, I believe, more than make up for that current difference in price.’

The four colour 524GX replaces a Ryobi 524HE machine that has been in use at Corsham for some nine years. ‘We have a long established relationship with Apex and with Ryobi. The Apex team is very professional and great to work with, and the presses are the most reliable that we have ever used,’ said Chris. ‘We knew that we didn’t really need to look at any other suppliers products. Ryobi has also been at the forefront of the LED-UV technology, so this purchase will put us at the cutting edge of print technology.’

Complementing the press will be a Cron platesetter, also supplied by Apex. This will replace the polyester based plate production of the DPX System. ‘The DPX has served us very well over the years,’ continued Chris. ‘But with the price of metal plates from Cron now coming in below the cost of polyester, and the added sharpness and stability offered by the plates, this is the ideal solution to work with our new press. We are now producing an amount of work for local fine art studios, so the increase in resolution of this device will allow us to move on to a higher screen ruling for this type of work.’

‘This is the final part of a half million pound investment in the business over the last 12 months. It has included finishing equipment, digital kit, and the redevelopment of parts of our property,’ concluded Chris.