The Imaging Centre has switched from an HP Indigo 12000 to the latest Indigo 18K at its premises in Marden, Kent
Installation of the machine was followed by an upgrade to its digital embellishment capability to match the B2 sheet by becoming one of the first in the UK with the larger version of Duplo’s DuSense.
The new Indigo is having an impact on cutting down time, with inline spectrophotometer and closed loop colour control to manage consistency on longer runs of greetings cards.
“We know how much care and creativity goes into every design and this investment is about making sure we can do justice to that work while also giving our customers the speed, consistency and competitiveness they need in today’s market,” says managing director Adam Short.
The customer base ranges over 845 card publishers and designers which have been pressing to handle longer runs. The largest orders have risen from 20,000 to 280,000 units, while it will also print as few as six cards. “We have grown alongside HP Indigo technology for nearly three decades and every investment has helped us take the next step as a business. Now the 18K gives us greater productivity with less downtime, helping us respond more quickly to our customers while supporting larger volumes than ever before,” says Short. “It’s another step in making sure we continue growing alongside our customers.”
The company lost no cards production during the switch from one machine to the other.
Equally important to the company’s development has been Duplo with multiple multifinisher installations including the 20K B2 model, coaters and laminators as well as digital embellishment.
This expansion as well as the new press were key to the Imaging Centre’s participation in the PG Live show at the Business Design Centre in north London. Visitors received early samples from the new press.
Next year they will receive more as Short has signed the Imaging Centre to be sponsor of the Springboard Area in the Upper Village at the show. This is the showcase for new designers and publishers to show their designs. Next year these will be offered 300 printed cards (up to 50 examples of six designs), 50 copies of a trade catalogue, 100 postcards for visitors and 100 business cards, printed on the new press.
