Direct Colour goes Komori H-UV

Print Solutions

Chessington’s Direct Colour has just installed a fully automatic H-UV equipped Lithrone S29.

The four colour B2 press is the company’s first Komori and will replace its six colour Heidelberg 74.

Director Mark Attwater said, ‘We have invested to stay competitive and profitable and, as a fast growing print and design company, we want to capitalise on our strengths of service and flexibility.

‘Direct Colour has a loyal customer base of print managers, design agencies and direct clients. They deserve the best quality print and with the colour management and instant drying of the H-UV Komori, we can now offer them more creativity on a wider choice of materials and also turn work around to tighter schedules. We are eliminating any need to use machine sealing or spray powder so we deliver print which has a more tactile, more appealing feel and by eliminating the use of alcohol, our print will be more environmentally friendly.’

Managing director Alan Briggs added, ‘Our print heritage goes back to 1947 when my father established his letterpress business in Kingston upon Thames. Virtually throughout my own 50 years in print I have used and owned Heidelbergs, so we started 2017 expecting to buy an updated, used B2 Heidelberg. However, we had a demo on a new B2 four colour H-UV equipped Lithrone and this changed our minds. Our run lengths vary from 5000 but can be over 200,000 and mostly it is four colours so the Lithrone’s quick make ready supported by the 16,000 an hour running speed is ideal for our varied types of job. Magazines require multiple plate changes and with fully automated plate changing, this will enable our guys to load plates for the following section while they are running the current set and we’ll be able to turn this type of work around far more efficiently.’

Direct Colour employs 11 staff and its Chessington Trade Park premises is home to partners and contractors providing digital, large format, design, mailing and specialist finishing services.

Mark commented, ‘We wanted a machine that would future proof Direct Colour. Komori delivered on the lead time and with an excellent overall package and great financial input from Close Brothers, the switch to a new Komori was an easy decision.

‘We print for many blue chip companies, large print managers and other smaller printers. The Lithrone and H-UV curing will ensure the consistency and turnaround speed to give us the confidence to seek out additional business, and we are looking at developing other markets such as print on plastics and lightweight products for our pharmaceutical clients. Our in-house design – Lisa Ghaith Creative – is really looking forward to creating progressive artwork for new jobs that capitalise on our Lithrone’s new print capabilities.’

Mark Attwater: Clearly ultra enthusiastic about the possibilities of Komori’s H-UV.

'The Lithrone and H-UV curing will ensure the consistency and turnaround speed to give us the confidence to seek out additional business.'