From Sept. Graphic Arts Monthly Magazine....The power and profit of Direct Imaging, using the Quickmaster DI:
"Using the Direct Approach"
Atlanta based TR Digital Production prides itself on being the first to implement on-demand, digital imaging printing in its locale. The 10 year old digital imaging center - which, with 50 employees and only one salesperson, generated $4 million in sales in 1997.
"Our reputation among our clients is that we're early adopters of technology," says Forrest Robinson, TR Digital's president. "When our clients are in need of a service, they assume that if anyone does it, we do. We like to take new technology and pioneer it. We had the foresight to see that a direct imaging press could serve them, and us very well."
Imaging Technology:
In November 1996, TR Digital installed a Heidelberg Quickmaster DI press. Within 30 days, the company was satisfied with the products the machine could print (so much so, in fact, that it installed a second Quickmaster DI in March, 1998.)
"We invisioned the short-run, quick turnaround, color brochure market as our primary niche" says Robinson. Surprisingly, we've had a much broader market. Our Quickmaster DI jobs account for 26% of our business, and we anticipate that number to grow to 40% in 1998"
The QMDI, a direct imaging, four-color, waterless thermal offset press, uses PEARL imaging technology from Presstek, Inc., Hudson, N.H. Pearl is a filmless, laser imaging process that produces high-quality plates directly on press.
Beyond the imaging technology, the press's central impression cylinder and plate-handling ability is based on Presstek technology. Its system components include high powered semiconductor laser diode arrays and ablative, thermal printing plates.
Waterless Plates:
The Quickmaster DI uses Presstek's PearlDry plates, which use a specially formulated top coat to form the ink-repellent layer. After imaging, the plates are wiped by the Quickmaster's automatic plate cleaner to remove the loosened top layer; the plates are then ready for printing, requiring no gumming or processing.
We are quite pleased with the quality and repeatability of the Presstek plate", says Robinson. "The stereotype of a direct press is that the quality is not good. We think Pearl imaging technology gives us great dot structure. If you're getting good-quality scans, the plates and the press will deliver quality jobs.
"In 1997, we were running 40 plates a day on one Quickmaster DI - 200 plates a week, or 100,000 a year, which is about 182,648 feet of Quickmaster DI plate material," Robinson continues. "Our first Quickmaster DI has recorded six million impressions through April, 1998. With our second unit, we anticipate we'll double those numbers this year.
Ease of Use:
Robinson notes that the direct imaging press provided such high quality and quick turnaround, that customers soon came back for repeat jobs. "From the start, our designer customers were using our digital press service as a service of their own," he says. "They've realized that they can offer this as a quick-turnaround business and mark up jobs that they have us print."
Today, TR Digial uses a Fuji First Proof to generate client proofs. However, it may need to install a higher-end solution, such as Presstek's Pearlhdp digital halftone proofer.
Increased Productivity:
As for the future, Robinson and his partners are considering adding a conventional sheetfed press and computer-to-plate (CTP) system. Presstek's PearlSetter CTP system, which is based on the same Pearl imaging technology as the Quickmaster DI, is a firm candidate.
"We didn't use a crystal ball to envision our newfound role," says Robinson. "We made very logical business decisions to transform ourselves from a trade shop to a digital imaging center. Our employees, customers, and equipment enabled us to be successful."
Neil |
