Fulmar's focus on delivering superb quality at speed for some of the UK's top brands has led the company to invest £250,000 in a B1 Screen PlateRite 8800ZX platesetter, the fastest thermal platesetter in its class. Fulmar, part of the CPI Group, has also further streamlined production with a major workflow upgrade to Trueflow SE across two sites in Croydon.
A guaranteed supply of plates to Fulmar's Group's Heidelberg presses comprising a total of 62 units is paramount. "We wanted a platesetter with exceptional throughput to cope with our considerable plate volume needs," says Mike Austin, Group Marketing Director. "Run lengths are growing shorter and response rates are faster and this investment was important to reduce our prepress times still further. With this latest investment we can now produce a full set of plates for one of our 12-colour presses in 15 minutes."
The PlateRite 8800ZX uses GLV (Grating Light Valve) imaging technology to output up to 51 Agfa thermal plates per hour. Integral plate punching and multi-cassette plate loader reduces handling time and ensures plates are quickly on press. Achieving the highest levels of quality is Fulmar's priority and the driver behind its new Trueflow SE workflow investment. Screen's PDF/JDF-enabled, prepress production system provides automated pre-flight, colour conversion, imposition, trapping and Ripping.
The company has achieved the ISO 12647 standard for colour process control which, in Mike's view, "is the backbone which keeps quality at the forefront in everything we do." A highly efficient production suite complemented by strong environmental credentials (including ISO 14001 Environmental Management, Carbon Neutral manufacturing status, FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody Certification) has attracted an impressive client list. This includes leading design groups and a raft of corporate clients. "We expect to continue our investment plan throughout this year and have some strong thoughts regarding purchases at IPEX next year," says Mike.
