Image Data GroupImage Data Group confirmed its order for Komori’s H-UV Lithrone 40 at Ipex, taking delivery of the show machine at its Willerby factory shortly after. There it has joined an all Komori pressroom and replaces its SP perfector. The aim now, as then, continues to be delivering the fastest possible response to customers in retail, while remaining compatible with its other B1 presses.
“The majority of our work is fast turnaround and we are often operating at breakneck speeds. The H-UV’s instant drying system means that we can put through jobs at an even faster rate without needing to factor in drying time,” says marketing director Mandy Long.
The press is a five-colour machine with coater, the first H-UV press with a coater and the first B1 machine. It is also the first not to be using the Toyo inks that Komori specifies. It is instead using Huber New V high sensitivity UV inks which have been approved by Komori as suitable for H-UV printing, continuing a long standing relationship with the ink supplier.
With any new technology support was needed to pass the inevitable teething issues associated with the new press, with new inks, press chemistry, blankets. Image Data wanted to use specific materials, including plastics, which needed to be tested and adjustments made to the ink formulation to ensure that they ran as smoothly as possible. Says Long: “The support from Huber was fantastic. We had help from Paul English as the rep and even had the Swiss technician, who developed the H-UV inks, on the case. He was with us for several days helping with the installation.
“We thought both press and consumables teams worked very effectively together. Both sets of technicians (together with our own print staff) all worked collectively to ensure a smooth installation.”
The company continues to both gain experience with the technology and to push its boundaries. The immediate benefits are about the speed of turnaround because the sheet is completely dry from the press and can be finished immediately. There are other gains says business development director Dave Corben. “We can print on thinner stocks than previously because there is less show through; we can print on a much wider range of stocks, including plastics and high gloss surfaces such as Mirri-board and we can offer specialist varnish options such as matt-high gloss combinations or spot varnish options not possible in one process before.”
The creative options for agencies are wide, the high gloss finish when the sheet is varnished fitting a current trend in fashion for high gloss high quality print he explains.
For retail customers H-UV can produce in store wobblers on plastic materials to allow for reuse and durability; it can print on plastics for challenging conditions, such as close to chiller cabinets or when exposed to outdoor conditions in a garden centre. It is also capable of printing the self cling vinyls which were simply impossible on a conventional litho press.
The creative options for agencies are wide, the high gloss finish when the sheet is varnished fitting a current trend in fashion for high gloss high quality print explains business development manager Dave Corben. For retail customers H-UV can produce in store wobblers on plastic materials to allow for reuse and durability; it can print on plastics for challenging conditions, such as close to chiller cabinets or when exposed to outdoor conditions in a garden centre. It is also capable of printing the self cling vinyls which were simply impossible on a conventional litho press. Explore more… Generation Next
