White Star Printing has made an MIS one of its first purchases, choosing an EFI GamSys system for its plant in Chandlers Ford.
It was here that less than two months ago that the new B2 print business was launched, a rare event since the collapse of 2008. White Star Printing got under way with a four-colour Komori 429 H-UV and brace of Konica Minolta digital presses. The finishing area is equipped with Horizon machines. And now the company has taken the MIS solution as a means of knitting the business together.
Managing director of White Star is Max Middleton, previously at Snows Business Forms. He says: “This investment was a logical decision for the company during its first few months, and enables the business to adopt the right levels of MIS, ERP and process management as soon as possible. Although we have long term experience of working with management software, we fully appreciate the benefits of working with a modular solution designed for a hybrid workflow that can grow with our company and be augmented at any time.”
The company has set its stall on the quality and turnaround offered by new generation UV printing, the first to be installed on the south coast. Middleton says: “There were four main considerations that made the Komori H-UV the press for us, all of which would give us a distinct advantage over our competitors: shorter turnaround time, reduction of stock space, improved quality due to powderless operation and environmental impact.
“All these considerations have meant that we can offer our clients increased quality, quicker turnaround along with competitive pricing.”
The start up business has formed an alliance with Snows Business Forms to handle litho work that it cannot process. The company takes its name from the ocean going liner company that was based in Southampton and which own the Titanic. It was chosen because, says Middleton, he did not want a name that was based on geography and could therefore become restrictive.
“We have had some ups and downs over the last six weeks and we are still settling in,” he says. Bedding in the MIS will be the next stage. It will send and take data from across the business, linking to a CRM function as well as the standard administrative tasks to provide the business with full accountability, better cost control and overall business efficiency.
White Star Printing is among the very few new B2 litho printers to have started in recent years. It is printing on a Komori Lithrone 429 H-UV and reckons to be the first company on the south coast with this technology.
