As part of a five-year investment plan to bring all production in-house, Millvale Printing, in Evesham, UK, has installed its first CTP system - a Fujifilm Luxel Vx-6000 violet platesetter. It has already enabled the company to cut make-ready times by up to 50 per cent - and reduced turnaround times from seven days to less than two.
Millvale also invested in Fuji Rampage Open Workflow, which has played a key part in enabling it to automate and manage a combination of different prepress processes, including screening and proofing.
Gary Dean, print development manager, comments: "Rampage makes a noticeable difference in the preparation of a job. We have improved the precision of the trappings and overlay, which has given us confidence that we will produce accurate plates with complete reliability. Our choice of the Luxel Vx-6000 was also influenced by the capability to use the same plate with both conventional and UV curing inks. This was an important factor for us as we offer our customers both ink options."
Fuji's Ramproof Direct proofing module is said to allow Millvale to provide customers with highly accurate proofs. Its 'RIP once, output many' feature "reassures customers the output file will not change and so the proof will be true to the end print", according to Fuji.
Millvale produces printed products, including packaging, for blue chip companies such as the BBC, Boots, Harvey Nichols and confectionery manufacturers. Its new Fuji CTP system is capable of producing up to 48 B2 plates/hour and images directly to Fujifilm Brillia LP-NV plates. With its new violet platesetting capabilities and automated workflow, the company now relies on less equipment and plans to increase its production capability by 40 per cent.
Millvale is maximizing the benefits of violet CTP by offering it to smaller printers in the area. Gary Dean concludes: "Many local printers would like the opportunity to work with CTP, but it's not a viable option due to the costs involved. By sharing our resources with smaller firms they can expand their workload and we can further utilize the capabilities of our Fujifilm Luxel Vx-6000."
| Contact |
| Fujifilm Graphic Systems Tel: +44 (0) 1234 245245 |
