RMGT LED-UV Offset Press Saves California Printer up to $180,000 in 2016 Since it was installed this past April, a new RMGT (Booth 1201) 9 Series five-color sheetfed, LED-UV press at Northern California-based online printer Copyworld Inc has been saving the firm anywhere between $12,000 and $15,000 per month. Running 24x36" sheets, “it’s bigger than a half-size press,” says Plant Manager Khaqan Ashraf, whose father started the company in 1987. “We can run eight up on a sheet, and the press is powderless. Prints come off dry immediately. There’s no tackiness at all,” he notes. “It’s such a large machine,” Ashraf adds, “but it is able to produce work just as quickly as our DI direct-imaging presses.” The elder Ashraf had purchased three 19x12.5" Quickmaster DI presses from Heidelberg years ago, as his printing company migrated to more commercial work. The meters literally had turned over on two of those older presses, Khaqan recalls. LITHOMAN The productivity benchmark. “We ran the heck out of them. One DI ran around the clock and had 150 million impressions on it: a record, according to Heidelberg,” he reports. The other ran approximately 12 hours per day and had 120 million impressions, and a third press had 80 million impressions. “These presses served their purpose but the plates are expensive,” he acknowledges. Clearly, it was time for the three-shift operation to transition to updated technology manufactured in Japan by Ryobi MHI Graphic Technology (RMGT). However, the Ashrafs admit that they were reluctant to purchase such a large press. “We have minimal space in our 10,000-square-foot plant,” says Khaqan, “and working with the city of Berkeley CA to upgrade power is challenging. With the 40" press we looked at, there was a power issue with the aqueous unit that pretty much ruled out that model.” A friend introduced Ashraf to Kian Hemmen, of Print & Finishing Solutions (Western US Distributor Print is always on the move. In dynamic markets, printers need to adapt to new conditions. This is manroland web systems’ focus: You, your business, and your future. The LITHOMAN is a worldwide leader in the high-quality, high-volume segment. It offers the latest drive technology for the production of magazines, catalogs, directories, and inserts. manroland web systems Inc., Lisle/IL. www.manroland-web.com Visit us at Graph Expo 2016 in Orlando Booth 1119 for RMGT), who ran some numbers: “First of all, we needed no power upgrade. Then Kian showed us how the 925 would fit. It measures six feet or so narrower than a 40" machine, and about 15 or 20 feet shorter. The bottom line is we got a brand new machine for what a four- or five-year-old Heidelberg would cost.” Thanks to the new press, the 22 employees at the $4 million operation are adding new types of customers beyond the typical short runs of between 1,000 and 15,000 data sheets, door hangers, flyers, postcards, and business cards. “We are getting into the wholesale trade printing business as a reseller,” Ashraf explains. With a full-service bindery that includes booklet makers, two 45" cutters, folders, and a die cutter, he can now compete for book printing that simply was not cost-effective to produce on the DI presses. Already, he reports executing projects such as 6,000 copies of a 40-page book that was turned around within three days; 3,000 copies of a 60-page, 5.5x8.5" book; and a 20,000 run of a sixteen-page book. “The new press from RMGT allows us to be competitive, sell at wholesale, and still make money,” he explains. The RMGT 925’s LED-UV capabilities are opening new doors in another way, too. There is a prospect that requires a 36-hour turnaround for an automotive client. “We had sticking issues before,” Ashraf remembers, “but now they may become my biggest customer.” Copyworld Inc, which has copy-shop roots dating back 29 years, will celebrate its 30th business anniversary next year. “Buying this press is the best decision I’ve ever made,” the younger Ashraf says. “It’s paying for itself,” adding that “RMGT has a customer for life.” For the first half of 2016, sales are up approximately 12%. He concludes: “We are going to modify our building in three or four years and will probably buy another RMGT press.” Offifi cial Show Daily | PrintingNews.com GRAPH EXPO 16 | September 25, 2016 | 41
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