A B Graphic (ABG) has used a series of road trips to printers across the UK to demonstrate to fellow print businesses how advanced automation has directly resulted in increased workflow efficiencies.
The visits, held over 14-16 and 28-30 November, involved 34 people from across Europe and took in Letchworth-based Printed Easy, Mercian Labels in Cannock and Hull’s Springfield Solutions. Each of these is a user of ABG’s finishing equipment and have successfully automated their production in specific ways to benefit their businesses.
Printed Easy has a large range of ABG equipment including four DigiLase machines and ABG’s first two automated core cutters, along with DigiJet and DigiLite technologies and various sheeters. The company’s workflow is based on a completely unique web-to-print business model focusing on short-run, high-margin work. Developed around a bespoke MIS that was built in-house, the company uses a unique algorithm that incorporates ABG’s Connect workflow connectivity system. This calculates instant, live quotes to customers via the Printed Easy website.
Mercian Labels is a development partner for ABG, running the first-ever fully automated Digicon Series 3. It is also the first customer to run the latest version of ABG Connect that incorporates an automatic fleyeVision camera inspection system, as well as an automated Vectra SGTR turret Rewinder. This helps minimise the requirement for an operator and can reduce material wastage between jobs down to only 3m.
Also a development partner, Springfield Solutions is currently beta testing an EcoLeaf unit for ABG, in partnership with Actega. This is installed on a 530 Converter and uses an Actega-developed inkjet trigger image, making Springfield the first development partner to use a digital option instead of a flexo/flatbed screen. The company was previously a beta partner for DigiJet and now runs a unit in full production. A fully digital manufacturer, four of the company’s five Screen Europe inkjet digital presses are running inline for one-pass production.
Matt Burton, ABG global sales director, said, ‘The visits to our three UK customers’ facilities were an all-round success and I am indebted to them for their time and energy in presenting their automation success stories.’
He continued, ‘I hope our European customers are now fully conversant with the advanced automation opportunities available from ABG and I look forward to discussing their future requirements.’
