Chris Fowler makes B2 Commitment and switches Stitching Supplier |
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| 02.12.2005 |
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| Kevin Eyers - Managing Director - Chris Fowler International |
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Chris Fowler International in London is moving forward its plan to concentrate its production on B2 format offset printing and switching from Muller Martini to Heidelberg for its saddle-stitching line up.
Already equipped with three B2 Speedmaster SM 74s, two five-colours and a two-colour, it is taking delivery of a CD 74-5PLX to replace its remaining two SM52-4 B3 presses in February next year.
The CD version Speedmaster has been selected for its greater rolling power rather than the additional stock-handling versatility of the press. As a five-colour perfector it will have flexibility which the company needs because it handles a high volume of 2:2 overnight research papers for the City but also full colour commercial work for a wider audience, including major insurance, healthcare, banking and automotive companies.
The coater is a first and is selected for both aesthetic and productivity reasons. Managing director Kevin Eyers says that the comparative performance of the new press and the two existing five-colours will be closely monitored and will influence future buying decisions. That said he says he plans first to “sweat the assets more”, moving to 24 hour, six day working from the new year with the hope of going to seven days after that.
The company has just added CIP 3 connectivity between its existing five-colour press and its prepress department and this will be extended to the new press using Prepress Interface when it is installed in February. Run lengths are relatively short and deadlines tight so makeready times are all important and digital workflow enhances that by presetting ink ducts and register automatically. This introduction goes hand in hand with Chris Fowler’s recent award of the IsoLitho colour management accreditation.
Chris Fowler International has also taken Management Gate to link its home grown MIS systems to the shopfloor so that it can suck up accurate real time data collection. It is budgeting for a new third party MIS system next year.
Two Muller Martinis, a 321 and a Minuteman, are going out to be replaced by a new Stitchmaster ST350 six-station machine with a cover feeder and a refurbished ST250 in November/December of this year.
“We looked at the Muller Martini Bravo and benchmarked it against the ST350 but felt that the Heidelberg machine was much more versatile and user friendly,” says Mr Eyers. “It also fits with our strategy of selecting to work with a smaller number of suppliers in a close working partnership. By adding the ST250 as well we can ensure all our operators are working on a single technology which gives us greater flexibility. There will be a speed increase and a waste reduction with the move to Stitchmasters and this fits in with the work we have underway to secure ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. We also run Polar guillotines and Stahlfolders so with the exception of perfect binding all of our litho equipment will now be supplied and supported by Heidelberg.”
Another strategic partner Kodak which currently provides four, soon to be five, Digimasters for black and white production, will install Chris Fowler International’s first colour digital machine, a five-colour Nexpress 2100, in December.
Chris Fowler International in London generates a turnover of about £7.5m currently but hopes to reach £8.5 to £9m by 2006/7 with the new equipment on board and the hours extended.
For further information please contact:
Diana Thompson, Plus Point PR Ltd, on 01494 817178
diana@pluspoint.co.uk
Or
Irene Duffy, Heidelberg UK, on 020 8490 3675
irene.duffy@heidelberg.com
Or
Kevin Eyers, Chris Fowler International, on 020 7556 3603
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