PDNE enters B2 with used Komori

By Adam Hooker Friday, 19 December 2008

Print & Design North East (PDNE) has moved into the B2 sector with a used Komori press from Roberts Graphics.

The Newcastle-based company has purchased a five colour Komori Lithrone 528, its first non-Heidelberg press in 18 years.

Director Steven Gilbert said the investment was a move to boost turnaround times.

He said: "We had envisaged staying at B3 size, but after a thorough search in the marketplace, we found we could make the step up to a Komori five-colour B2 for a bit less than we would pay for a four-colour Speedmaster 52."

PDNE's new press comes equipped with semi–auto plate changing, full off-press controls with plate cocking, auto wash up, blanket wash up, and impression cylinder wash up.

It has a makeready time of around 20 minutes and is currently being run at 10,000 sheets per hour.

Gilbert added: "We are now producing in less than a day what it would have taken three days to produce on our old four-colour."

The investment follows the October installation of an Agfa Galileo platesetter with Apogee workflow.