Warwick Printing has upgraded its creasing and perforating with the installation of a KAS SRA2 high-speed suction-fed Creasematic AutoCreaser 50 from Ashgate Automation.
Paul Young, director, ‘In the last two years, the digital side of our business has really grown and we needed a dedicated creaser. Initially we considered a hand-fed machine but it would have been a short-term fix. The AutoCreaser 50 is a more efficient system, which gives us the speed and productivity for now and in the future,’ he added.
‘Quality is the prime factor in everything we do but we also wanted a creaser with a rotary perforating facility, quick make-ready and ease of operation. It requires significantly less skill to run the Auto Creaser 50 than a platen. It’s a simple matter of exchanging the four creasing width tools to cover a stock range of 80 to 400 gsm, which takes no time at all,’ he emphasised.
It can be programmed anywhere along the length of the sheet. Up to 28 creases per sheet can be programmed into the 99-job bank for regular jobs. Stock can be creased in sizes from CD to SRA 2 (max 500 x 700 mm).
Mr Young added, ‘We are also going to experiment with creasing long A4 8 page booklets which we have previously outsourced. It’s encouraging to know that Ashgate will be there at the end of the phone if we need any help.’
The company is creasing all the covers before they pass through the Kasfold bookletmaker, which was also purchased from Ashgate as it prevents cracking on heavily printed stock. ‘We bought the bookletmaker about two years ago when we installed an eight colour Heidelberg Speedmaster litho press. This investment has significantly increased our commercial capacity, including booklet making. We also diversified into digital printing with a Konica Minolta digital press and gained new business on the back of our litho activity. Customers have a variety of print requirements and now we can handle them all,’ concluded Mr Young.
