CTD Printers Undertakes Multi-Million Pound Investment for Growth |
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| 16.06.2005 |
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CTD Printers has undertaken a major reinvestment programme as part of its move to a brand new site in Sunbury-on Thames, adjacent to Kempton Park Races.
It will become a workflow pioneer, the first UK site to implement a Shuttleworth and Heidelberg link to seamlessly marry up its business and production processes. Work on the connection is underway. And it has installed a Speedmaster SM 102-10P long perfector - a complement to two CD 102s, an eight- and ten-colour - and an ST100, six station saddle-stitcher with cover feeder.
CTD Printers is a company with an enviable name for quality and a reputation for handling some of the UK’s top Report and Accounts. It handles 28 of the FSE100 print deals and Report and Accounts represent 70-80 percent of the company’s £8 million turnover, the remainder coming from top end commercial work. It has handled the Pirelli calendar for 16 years and today it deals with most of the UK’s leading design agencies.
The company was owned by Graham Tanner between 1964 and 2000 and his two sons still work for CTD Printers, an indication of the company’s ability to retain skilled staff. The company was then sold to Independent Registers Group which was itself acquired by Capita Group plc and as a non-core activity CTD Printers went up for sale. Today it is owned by Leonard Wheatley who has had a lifetime in print, most recently as joint managing director of financial printers Chris Fowler International.
With the new ownership has come more investment and a clearer direction. The premises are impressive with an exceptional amount of space given over to customer facilities, including a games room, so that those passing contracts have comfort and space as well as good light facilities to check work.
The Speedmaster and CD were transferred but the company decided to take out a 16 year old six-colour B1 perfector and replace it with a B1 ten-colour perfector. The company reviewed all suppliers but opted to remain with Heidelberg.
Mike Wells, managing director, says: “We have always bought CD presses because it gives the sharpest dot possible. But after looking at what various press manufacturers had achieved, and that more and more projects are perfectible due to the huge advances made in perfecting and jacket technology, the decision was made to purchase the press. The CD will continue to handle the lighter and heavier stock work but the SM 102-10P can easily handle the back end accounts sections of a Report and Accounts, some front end sections and much of the quality commercial work both in perfect or straight mode.”
The company has also installed ImageControl spectrophotometry to work across all three presses, giving it true closed loop colour.
“A job run over three days and nights, with varying temperature, conditions, lighting and different eyes assessing it, is far too subjective. ImageControl will allow us to have accurate colour consistently, reduce further our very low spoilage and produce faster make readies,” says Mr Wells.
The press data will be transferred via PrePress Interface. Part of the investment undertaken has included an upgrade to PrintReady automated prepress workflow and Data Control, a hub for all the networking and a source of important and relevant data.
“We will project the ‘real time’ available data onto a wall so that the team can view what is ‘current production and available capacity’,” says Mr Wells. “We have worked with Shuttleworth’s Remote Data Collection for some time and we know through experience where we win and lose margin but this networking through Data Control brings more science to the process.”
The decision to work with Heidelberg and Shuttleworth for a seamless workflow was the result of consultancy. The company uses an industry expert who advised that this was a viable and efficient link and he will ensure the two parties implement an effective JDF solution that will be tailored to the company’s specific needs.
CTD will consider linking some elements of its finishing in time but it is on press with the putting on of plates, getting to register, cleaning and client press passes that the efficiencies of networking appeal most. That and real life and real time data collection – data that will be used internally and for customer service - that is the key to CTD’s buying decision.
“Clients want quick and accurate estimates. They want a secure environment and with the disaster recovery steps we have put in place they have that. Networking means getting to press quicker and that means clients do not have to be here as long and as often which will cut down on night passes. When they are here we have ensured that they are comfortable.
“We have added capacity but without compromising quality and we can now give customers data to prove we have achieved the ISO quality standards we work to. We are also ISO 14001 environmentally accredited. For customers this total reinvestment is a win, win situation.”
The company anticipates its sales increasing to £10 million over the next year and it is still looking for good salesman, recognising that there is a great deal of organic growth potential in the business.
July 2005
For further information please contact:
Diana Thompson, Plus Point PR Ltd, on 01494 817178
or
Irene Duffy, Heidelberg UK, on 020 8490 3500
or
Leonard Wheatley or Mike Wells, CTD Printers, on 01932 771300
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