Alpha Colour Printers has returned to Heidelberg for a second Versafire CV digital press to meet rising demand for short run work.
Based in a 24,000 sq ft factory in Quedgeley, near Gloucester, Alpha Colour Printers offers a design, print, finishing, packing, storage and distribution services.
While the company’s first Versafire had five colours to handle specials (varnish, white or neons) and a long sheet feeder (for 6pp A4 production), the new purchase – which has moved straight into full production – is a four-colour model which will handle a lot of the straight process colour work.
‘It will free up the original press to handle the special work and will allow us to handle even more business cards, brochures, stationery, posters and a range of other printed material,’ explained Luke Ostle, repro manager.
‘We balance up the click charge and cost of plates to determine whether work goes digital or litho,’ he continued. ‘There is no definitive run length but obviously a 15 poster order would go digital and a 500 run eight-page brochure might well go litho. Most customers leave us to decide which technology works best for their job. The quality on this toner-based machine has got better and better.’
The use of Heidelberg’s Digital Front End allows Alpha’s operators to queue jobs quickly and easily. A former colleague based in Arizona even sends in jobs remotely.
‘Everything is now so automated. We have tried other workflows in the past but this is so perfect. We find it brilliant,’ concluded Mr Ostle.
