Think Repro Launches Advanced Prepress and Prototyping

Think Repro, the brainchild of award-winning packaging printer, James Townsend & Sons, and headed up by packaging prepress expert Kristian Wells, has launched an advanced prepress and prototyping service for the packaging industry.

According to Wells: ‘The prepress stage often takes longer than it really should for packaging.  Our aim is to offer a 'days not weeks' service, using our experience in repro, litho and flexo printing for packaging to get the best results for our clients.  We can work with a company's design agency and chosen printer from the start of each project.  It's vital to consider the printing process when preparing a file, so we take an holistic view of every project.  Giving expert advice on designs at an early stage ensures there are no costly delays later on and that products are printed perfectly and delivered to critical deadlines.’

Working from approved design files, Think Repro creates technically correct artwork to a printer's exact specification and offers a central artwork management service to ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the entire brand.  ‘Even after a job has been printed we continue to work with our clients and their printers to keep track of print quality and color consistency," he added.

Think Repro has invested in the latest prepress hardware, software and a highly-skilled five-man team to provide fast response artwork, color and device profiled proofing, flexo platemaking and the production of visual and physical 3D prototypes.  Its innovative 3D visualization service brings new package designs to life from artwork without the need to produce time-consuming hard copy mockups or wet-proofs.  3D views of designs and the effects of using different papers and inks, even metallic inks, foils and embossing with true reflections can be viewed.  Designs can be folded or wrapped around a template object such as a food can or drinks bottle giving a truly accurate representation of the final product.  At this stage, Think Repro can provide advice on how to adapt a design to ensure a cost-efficient and smooth production and finishing process.

Alongside an environmentally friendly solvent free DuPont Cyrel Fast Flexo platemaking system and Epson inkjet proofing printers, Think Repro has installed the first Roland VersaUV LEC330 in the UK.  Powered by GMG color management software this produces accurate proofs on any substrate, including clear film and metallics. Lengthy and expensive proofing techniques are eliminated by the ability to produce one-off packaging prototypes and short-run labels on a single machine.  The combination enables the company to produce color-managed packaging prototypes with the addition of white ink, gloss varnish, creasing and die cutting.  Using UV cured inks allows printing onto a vast array of substrates, including metallic and synthetic papers, foils, carton board, BOPP, PE and PET.  All stocks are calibrated and profiled to match the ISO12647-7 standard, or as close as the stock will allow.

In line with its strategy to streamline packaging design, prepress and printing processes, Think Repro can also save its customers up to 20% on ink whilst also increasing press stabilization using its Ink Optimization service.  Offered on a per job or monthly subscription basis, companies can maintain the quality and impact of their packaging, while reducing costs and benefit from higher press running speeds and faster drying times owing to carrying less ink.

Think Repro is targeting agencies, designers, printers and retailers and food/drink manufacturers who don't have in-house repro capabilities and need experienced and fast turnaround support. Clients already include: Merchant Gourmet, Leathams, Celloglas and design agencies with high profile clients including Disney.