GH525 IS THE WAY FOR D.A.
Hans Gronhi five colour impresses for Rochester printer
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The Company
D.A. Printers Ltd is a small general commercial printer based in Rochester, Kent and established in 1967. The company has joined a growing list of UK printers tempted by the combination of high quality and low price offered by Hans Gronhi offset presses, and has invested in a B3 five colour GH525 from UK supplier Printers Superstore.
D.A. Printers has single and two colour presses, and a three colour mini-web, but the Hans Gronhi machine is its first full colour offset press. As Director Jason Allen explains, the move comes as a result of success with the company’s digital equipment.
What was needed
“Our short run digital machines have attracted a lot of work, but it became apparent that the longer multicolour runs would be better suited to litho production,” he says. “A full colour offset machine allows us to both reduce click charge and retain more work in house. We also have a steady demand for leaflets and promotional print which are not economical to produce on a two colour press. Since one of our biggest clients requires an accurate and consistent special colour, we decided a five colour machine was the way to go.”
Quality at the right price
IPEX provided the ideal opportunity to investigate the B3 offset market, and Mr Allen says the experience was a revelation. “As soon as we arrived on the Hans Gronhi stand we could see that these were serious machines, very well built, and with specifications and features that were equal to the market leaders – the only real difference was, we could afford to buy one!”
Makeready was an important consideration for Mr Allen and his team, who consider profitability dependent on maximising the amount of short run jobs per day, while keeping quality standards high. To this end the company purchased a colourbar scanning densitometer system along with the press. “This, combined with easy touch screen operation and a CIP connection to our RIP helps us to get up and running quickly. As for the output quality, we have been very impressed – our platesetter uses FM/stochastic screening, which means very fine dot sizes. The GH525 has had no problem with this, or any halftone or solid we have put through it.”
Profitable
“Another plus point is the power consumption, which is low for a press of this size,” continues Mr Allen. “It’s also got a small footprint and is a quiet runner. We have also been impressed with Printers Superstore who offer a professional and personal service. There are lots of good points, but at the end of the day, the main question is, is this machine profitable – and the answer is yes!”
Like many in the industry, D.A.Printers has had a bumpy ride through the recession, but Mr Allen says demand has risen and the company is on course for a doubling of turnover in the current financial year, compared to the last. It has a wide range of B2B customers, including a local vehicle manufacturer, and also handles some local authority and trade work.
