Boxes GH goes digital with artwork systems

Boxes GH in Great Harwood, UK, has invested 300,000 to turn its manual platemaking department into a state-of-the-art pre-press facility that boasts Artwork Systems software and RIP technology along with new thermal CTP plate output equipment.

‘We knew that the investment had to be made but it was still a big cultural change,’ says pre-press manager Phil Ashcroft. ‘Staff had been used to film output, with the repro element handled by outside trade houses along with the production of CTP plates where customers have requested this for their work. To move to a completely digital environment needed, above everything else, suppliers that were going to help us along each step of implementation.  

‘This is one of the reasons we went to Artwork Systems. We hadn’t used its products before but we had heard of its reputation and obviously ArtPro is the standard pre-press production software for the carton industry. From the day we approached Artwork Systems the support it has provided us has been tremendous. The company made sure it understood what we required and ensured we understood the various elements that were necessary to make a modern pre-press facility function as efficient as possible.’

BoxesGH has installed NexusImport, NexusProcessor and NexusRIP facilities plus one seat of ArtPro. The NexusRIP is the RIPping and screening engine of the Nexus workflow and is one of the most versatile RIPs on the market today, able to output to a huge variety of output devices. At Boxes GH the NexusRIP has been linked to an Epson 9800 for proofing and the new CTP unit, which outputs plates for the company’s MAN Roland 600 and 900 presses.

‘It’s still early days for us but all the hardware and software has worked extremely well and within a very short time the benefits have been enormous,’ says Phil Ashcroft.  ‘For instance, it could easily take one person an eight hour shift to handle stepping and platemaking for a six-color job, whereas now this is completed in a fraction of the time. Automating so many repro functions such as step and repeat and trapping has resulted in very high accuracy and Artwork Systems was extremely quick at tailoring its software for our particular requirements.

‘Bringing platemaking in-house is saving about 10,000 a month and we’re currently analyzing the saving being made by not having to use outside repro houses. In addition, we are supplying higher quality plates to the pressroom, which reports faster makereadies, lower wastage and better print quality from the first generation dots on the plates. Everyone’s working conditions have improved significantly by eliminating the chemicals and manual part of the job.’

Boxes GH is part of the Clondalkin Group and specializes in producing printed cartons for the fast moving consumer goods market. Many of its customers are leading names within the food and household manufacturing sector as well as the retail market. The company employs around 120 people at the Great Harwood site.