The Bristol based company focusing on high-end fashion, retail, automotive and lifestyle sectors, commissioned a new pre-press system from Agfa Graphics last month.
The installtion of the Avalon N8-80 XT platesetter, which replaced an Avalon VLF model, was supported with an upgrade to Apogee 9 workflow and a new proofing system.
The kit produces backed-up proofs on uncoated and coated stock to Fogra 39L and 47L standards. The company moved to chemistry-free printing with Agfa's Azura TU plates.
Sales director Mike Malpas said: “We have a policy of prudent but ongoing investment across the whole business: print, finishing and pre-press.
“The previous Avalon was about eight years old and was part laser and part chemical. The new one is chemistry-free, so environmentally it is strong, but the quality is also excellent.
“The previous platesetter went up to 340 hybrid Sublima dots, but we now have a more consistent dot. Previously we had a 3% variation on accuracy, now it's less than 1%.”
The 60-staff company, which makes £7.5m turnover, invested £400,000 in the revamp of its pre-press studio and spent another £180,000 on a new Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts+ digital press, which went in last month.
Hampton Printing, launched over 50 years ago, runs two six-colour Heibelberg Speedmaster XL 105s and a five-colour XL 75.
Managing director Chris Cooper said: "With the adoption of Agfa's Azura TU plate it has been estimated we will reduce our water usage from 24,000 litres per year to just 125 litres.
“We will replace 2,400 litres of developer, which had to be collected and disposed of as chemical waste, with 400 litres of a washout gum solution.
“We have continually invested in the latest technology across our business, including multi-format Heidelberg presses, finishing equipment and pre-press systems.
“For some time we have wanted to move to chemistry-free plate processing but we had to be sure that we could continue or improve on the quality standards that our customers require.
“With chemistry-free processing we are now confident of plate consistency of less than 1% variance over any period and this consistency is just as important as achieving the initial exacting standard.
“We looked at the alternative systems available but Agfa understand the complexities of our business and we know that we can trust and rely on them when required."
Senior pre-press operator Nigel Davis said: "The gumming unit is much easier to keep clean saving us a great deal of time and Apogee 9 is proving a valuable asset as a totally continuous workflow.
“This is the third CTP system we’ve had from Agfa and each time we are amazed at the advancement in technology.”
