Falconer Print & Packaging improve carton proofing quality with short run capable LED UV Flatbed buy.
12 April 2017
Falconer Print & Packaging improve carton proofing quality with short run capable LED UV Flatbed buy.
Yorkshire based Falconer have installed a Mimaki UJF-7151 plus LED UV flatbed printer from specialist digital packaging solution supplier, Production Print Direct Limited.
Initially looking for a direct to substrate printer to improve production of mock-ups for customer proofs, it became clear the Mimaki had a lot more to offer.
Richard Martin, Falconer MD was involved from the outset and saw potential to utilise the kit for short run jobs, too small and time consuming for their Heidelberg press. “Not only was the bed size of 710mm x 510mm ideal for the Iggesund board size we use, having the ability to print on to a thickness of up to 153mm offers us a lot of future flexibility. The inks are flexible too, which means that no cracking in the finishing process occurs, so another plus for the Mimaki.” He added, “Our customers’ needs and expectations on turnaround and what we can print on are constantly keeping us on our toes. The Mimaki has stunning print quality with ink drop placement at 1200dpi which is a massive improvement on the toner based kit it replaces. We spec’d it with white and clear inks to give us the full effect for proofs that require spot UV varnish with a very tactile finish.”
Established in 1987, the company has an annual turnover of £4.5 million and employs 42 people from its convenient location between Leeds and Manchester. Falconer specialise in luxury and pharmaceutical packaging aimed at a wide range of design led sectors.
Pre Production Manager Phil Knight who also runs the new flatbed printer added, “Customer feedback has been great. It’s rare to get comments for proofs but there’s been a lot of praise for what we send out which has improved both job approvals and increased orders.” He added, “We’re working with Production Print Direct to link the Mimaki in to our production workflow so we get similar results to the Speedmaster CD74-6LX, enabling us to offer a short run solution on demand. We get asked for this service more and more so it’s great to now have the capability.”
Falconer had worked with Steve Beswick of Production Print Direct during his many years with Heidelberg UK, so had a good working relationship that has evolved with his role as Sales Manager for Wide Format Products for digital packaging. Steve commented, “Falconer had already recognised they needed to improve their proofing capability and had looked at and compared other competitor products but the Mimaki delivered a higher quality over a wide range of applications. We ran a few jobs at the Crewe showroom and the UJF-7151 plus offered more than expected, especially being able to lay down multiple layers of process, white and clear using the six staggered print heads, producing a spot UV varnish effect in a single print process.”
www.ppdirect.co.uk
