Creative Screenprint installs Xeikon 330 digital press

C.S. Creative Screenprint Limited, of Willenhall, West Midlands, UK, has announced the installation of its first digital printing system in the shape of a Xeikon 330 label press, complete with in-line finishing capability. The system was purchased from Punch Graphix UK as part of a 400,000 investment program.

‘The move into digital printing was undertaken after full and detailed consultation with our customers,’ said Simon Smith, managing director of Creative Screenprint. ‘We had already undertaken a detailed review of the work we were currently producing. This indicated that some 60 percent of our work required the production of less than 2,000 meters of material – which was definitely a pointer towards a digital future. It is important, however, to ensure that you are taking your existing customers with you before you embark on such a journey, and so we conducted a series of workshops with leading clients to discuss the potential and the benefits for them of digital print.’

The company was established back in 1976 as a screenprint sister-operation to Creative Labels. Simon Smith joined the business in 2000, following some 20 years with Lloyds TSB. ‘In many ways it was a huge benefit for the company to bring in somebody that knew very little about print, but had a lot of experience of other businesses,’ said Simon Smith. A review of the company’s market identified the need to undertake further investment in new machinery, especially for the short-run sector.

‘We reviewed the two leading digital products on the market, and there were things in favour of both products,’ continued Smith. ‘We identified a number of important issues with regard to the equipment.  Xeikon scored highly in the fact that there were no click charges associated with production. The machine also performed well with regard to the trials that took place, with customers preferring the Xeikon output.’

The web-fed Xeikon 330 is able to print on label stock, paper and synthetic media in widths up to 330mm and weights up to 250 gsm, in up to five colors, including opaque white. Xeikon 330 can print at up to 14.7 meters per minute. The digital press comes complete with in-line post press equipment suitable for varnishing, laminating, cutting, slitting, matrix stripping and re-reeling the finished printed product.