Working with new printed products also means new requirements for print finishing. So after installing a 6-colour Komori press last year, and taking into account that new printed products remain just as important while requirements for print finishing continue to evolve, Consolidated Press in Seattle, Washington has put into operation a Primera C130 saddle stitcher to go along with its Bravo S, both from Muller Martini.

“Due to our new signature machine, we are now able to print superior products including covers, all with the best quality,” says the company’s CEO Gary R Stone who has owned and operated the company that was founded in 1934 jointly with CFO Robert T Brown since 1995. “For the shorter print runs, in particular, we need a new solution that have significantly lower changeover times,” says Bob Brown.

That is why Consolidated Press decided in favor of a new Primera C130, which replaced two older Muller Martini saddle stitchers and complements a Bravo S that was put into operation in 2003. The new machine features six flat pile feeders, a cover feeder, a merchandise tipper, inline die cutting for calendars as well as an Apollo compensating stacker.

Inca Digital Printers and FUJIFILM announce the launch of Inca Onset S20i wide-format UV flatbed inkjet printer featured with a range of new productivity and convenience features. Launch of this new printer is followed after recent introduction of Onset S40i in May this year. Inca Onset line of printers address the needs of PSPs looking for high-quality, high-speed throughputs on a variety of both flexible and rigid support materials up to 3.14x1.6 m and 50 mm thick.

Onset S20i retains the characteristic full-width printhead array with 26 individual FUJIFILM Dimatix printheads per colour, offering users production speeds up to 310 sq m/hr, equivalent to 62 full beds per hour.

- with Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 and a POLAR 115 XT cutter
- aims a growth of thirty percent every year

With Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 press, Coimbatore-based Kalaikathir Achagam has increased their productivity, enabling to deliver 15,000 sph with a maximum print size of 510 mm x 740 mm. The print-shop recently installed a Speedmaster SM 74 four-colour press and a POLAR 115 XT programmable cutting machine.

“The press can handle paper thickness from 0.03 mm to 6 mm, which helps in printing diverse jobs. The press is very reliable and easy to use and is one of the best equipments we now have in our press division helping us churn loads of print jobs with a peace of mind,” conveys Dr Padmanabhan, director of Kalaikathir Achagam and managing trustee & correspondent of GRD Institutions, adding, “Heidelberg’s technology is proven and superior. It’s a lifelong machine. Unlike other machines which need replacement after about ten years, we can expect the German technology to deliver high quality lifelong. Everyone knows that German technology has met the expectations of the printing fraternity across the globe for many years.”

Established in Coimbatore in 1954 by Dr GR Damodaran, a doyen of various educational institutions of the PSG group in Coimbatore, Kalaikathir Achagam started its operation as a print-shop for printing an educational magazine named Kalaikathir, and has now emerged as a commercial print-shop. In 1987, Dr Padmanabhan took over the operations and set it on a growth path, with support of his wife Geetha Padmanabhan who takes care of purchase, bank operations and credit management.

Having the entire infrastructure for prepress, press and postpress, Kalaikathir Achagam aims a growth of thirty percent year on year. The prepress, press and postpress processes are integrated with streamlined workflow. “In the postpress section, we have three programmable POLAR cutting machines. We are also equipped with a folding machine, lamination machines, die-cutting and embossing machines, semi-automatic stitching machine, six clamp perfect binding machines, three knife trimmers, spot UV printing machine, label die-cutting and punching machines,” mentioned Dr Padmanabhan. The company will soon have a modern building equipped with the latest equipments, becoming one of the best in providing complete print-solutions under one roof. Expanding their current calendar printing, they plan to print exclusive calendars for corporates next year. About fifty percent of its printed products are directly or indirectly exported.

“Forty years back, Kalaikathir Achagam was the only all-in-one-place print-house enjoying a monopolistic position.” remembers Balaji of the company. Even at that time, they were serving all the segments of commercial printing of more than 100 corporates. “Today, we print a variety of jobs like brochures, leaflets, newsletters, stickers, catalogues, posters, wedding invitations, greeting cards and have also recently begun printing notebooks and books. We also print seasonal products like calendars and diaries,” adds Balaji.

-also set to launch 670 mm saddle stitcher targeting notebook application

During an open house held recently at their manufacturing facility near Delhi, Pramod Engineering demonstrated highlighted features of the new G-30 Glory side gathering machine, designed, devised and built for Italy-based Edis Publishing and Packaging House. The company presented the demonstration of G-30 just a day before its shipment to Bengaluru where the Italian publishing and packaging house is setting up their production facility for binding and finishing cricket related literature, tickets etc. Apart from the august attendees including existing clients of Pramod and the prospects, president of Delhi Printers’ Association (DPA) alongwith other office bearers were also present to closely examine the performance of this state-of-the-art machine in working mode.

Enumerating key features of the machine, Divesh Nath and Rohit Nath, directors of Pramod Engineering pointed out, “This kind of machine has been built with indigenous R&D first time in India, rather we should say in entire south East Asia. With 15 meter length, this machine will prove most economical, productive and time–saver in production with high-efficiency side gathering solution for multiple-signature publications/products. The machine is designed to pick-up folded bible-paper forms besides 60 gsm to 130 gsm substrates.”

Apart from collating printed forms, G-30 Glory machine can collect single sheets of 60 gsm+ substrates. It is suitable for 35 gsm to 100 gsm folded signatures, and 8 pages to 32 pages signatures (maximum size of the signature is: 310 mm X 280 mm. The machine can run up to 5,000 collected books, magazines, catalogues, annual reports, etc per hour. It also features an option of online wire stitching of up to one inch, with wire from 21 to 26 gauge. The book blocks can then be put up for prefect binding or needle thread sewing.

“To maintain international standard and quality of our machines, we have concentrated in the manufacturing of 95 percent components of G-30 Glory side gathering machine in-house at our state-of-the-art facility which is equipped with latest CNC machines,” conveyed Divesh.

“We are also on the threshold of launching 670 mm Saddle Stitcher in next couple of weeks’ time, targeted to the notebook industries. It will be coupled with on line 3-knife trimmer which can have even 5-knife option. The commercial trial of the new in-line 3-knife trimmer has succeeded. The introduction of this machine will substantially cut down on the cost of manufacturing and conserve time,” divulged Rohit.