The south coast online printing services specialist invested in Plockmatic Group’s next-generation programmable guillotine to handle sheets from its new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C14010s that supports long sheets up to 1,300 mm or 900 mm in duplex. GD Print has also invested in a Konica Minolta AccurioPress 7090 ENHANCED.
“We wanted the production flexibility to print on longer sheets which is why we chose to upgrade from our Konica Minolta C14000 to the new Konica Minolta C14010,” said Managing Director Craig Dobbs. “Then we needed a guillotine to handle the longer sheet.
“We are a long-standing Morgana Systems customer and bought a Morgana PowerSquare 224 last year, but we did look at other systems on the market. We liked the large LCD screen and the ability to store up to 50 programmes. That will help us set up regular jobs faster which is especially important as jobs are getting smaller and smaller and turnaround times are shorter. We do a lot of order of services, and we can’t let anyone down.
Sometimes we get a file at 3pm for a funeral the next day. The investment we have made helps us ensure we can provide that level of service. We also liked how easy, with minimal training, the guillotine is to set up. It’s simple-to-follow prompts via the touchscreen means anyone can be comfortable operating it.
“Another consideration was that we only don’t have three-phase electricity, and this is a system that will run on single-phase power. We also get great service from Morgana Systems, and we didn’t want to move away from that.”
He continues: “The ease of use and the larger blade size were the main factors for our choice, but I also liked the fact there is a very simple step by step process for the safe changing of the blade.”
The investment included SpeedCut – a software solution designed to streamline production of even the most challenging jobs. It was put to the test almost straight away, says Craig: “We were asked to produce a printed logo for the inside of a keyring. The job was 90 up and the logo had to be centred. We put it into the SpeedCut and boom, it immediately planned the cuts. It was fast and accurate. It removes manual programming and reduces errors. This is very useful for out-of-the-ordinary jobs.”
Return on investment was not a main consideration he adds: “The system was brought to support a larger sheet size and for its speed of use. We didn’t look at it for its return, it was necessary to invest in the future of the business. If you don’t do that you could wake up one day and find you are technically so far behind that you can’t catch up.”
He added: “We like working with Morgana Systems/ Plockmatic Group because of the quality of their systems and the quality of their service. A solution can be the best in the world but, if it isn’t supported, it could end up being worth nothing.”
Ed Hudson, General Manager, Morgana Systems, said: “GD Print’s investment in our newly launched next-generation programmable guillotine is another example of how we work closely to help customers find the right solution for their business. We always strive to fully understand their requirements so that we can offer the best technical and most cost-effective system in every case, as well as provide comprehensive back-up service and support.”
GD Print offers a streamlined online ordering process and fast turnaround times for a wide range of applications from A4 or A5 booklets, to flyers and professional banners.
