Performance Series P3 installed at Kingsway Printers
Kingsway Printers has seen a new dimension to productivity just four weeks after the family run business had a Mark Andy Performance Series P3 installed.
The company now has five flexo presses. The new P3 joins three Mark Andy 2200s and an earlier Arsoma EM 280. Richard Pullan, managing director, said, ‘The new press has cut our waste by around 30% already, and we expect it to generate sales of £1 million in its first year.’
With run lengths declining, and a need to diversify production capability, the company invested in digital technology in 2010 by adding an HP Indigo 4500 line to its plant. While extending capacity and offering cost effective production on short run work, Mr Pullan said, ‘The P3 now offers us an alternative when previously digital would have been the only option.’ Whilst digital has complemented the production facility, he believes UV flexo has a strong future and points out that he has added two further flexo presses to his capacity since the HP Indigo was installed.
(L-R) Paul Macdonald, Mark Andy UK with Richard Pullan, managing director, Kingsway Printers
It was the capability of handling short run work cost effectively that attracted Mr Pullan to the series. Claiming that the P3 offers the perfect crossover from the 2200 to the more sophisticated servo P5 and P7 presses, he said the machine is having a big effect on productivity. ‘We estimate it’s five minutes per colour faster to make ready with its easy plate change, and the short web path and fast registration has reduced waste significantly.’ With landfill costs increasing year over year waste is a critical factor.
Currently the company prints approximately twice as much on paper substrates as film, a split that has changed little over the years. Its business comes mainly from the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. ‘We’re in a position where we have to match or better the quality and service offered by larger competitors, but do not have the leverage to steer the market. But, being smaller allows us to be more responsive, and that’s the foundation of our customer care,’ he concluded.
