GD Print Futureproofs with Konica Minolta Presses
GD Print joined Konica Minolta at its Print Show stand and highlighted the recent purchases
Hampshire-based printer GD Print has invested in two new Konica Minolta presses to futureproof the family business, as it prepares for the next generation of leadership.
Both an AccurioPress C14010S and C7090 Enhanced were installed four days before The Print Show in September, providing an upgrade to the firm's production capabilities.
The recent investments aim to set the business up going forward as managing director Craig Dobbs will take the helm when his father Gary Dobbs, who founded the business, looks to retire in the coming months.
Speaking to Printweek, Craig Dobbs said the business had made a series of recent investments totalling around £250,000. This also includes the purchase of a Morgana guillotine and bookletmaker two months ago.
The new C14010S is an upgrade on the printer's Konica Minolta C14000E press, which was part-exchanged with the supplier, bringing enhanced automation and a boost in quality.
Looking at the impact, the new machine will offer faster turnaround for customers, an extra colour offering, while it also stood out for its durability and running speeds.
Both the C7090 and C14010S include the TU510e inline trimming unit, while further features of the C14010S include fifth colour capabilities, on sheets up to 1,300mm long and 450gsm, with a top speed of 140ppm. Dobbs added it’s an “all-in-one machine.”
Dobbs said: “Over time, they've [Konica Minolta] always brought out modifications, and then this one's a big jump, they’ve sorted everything out on it and improved on it.”
Staff had a day’s training and a day with KM's colour expert to ensure the company hit its colour targets.
Commenting on the machine’s colour feature, Dobbs explained: “They set it up so it twice a day automatically prints and scans out a calibration test sheet, and then it certifies it. So we get a message come up that it fully certifies the colour, and it does all that inline now.
“This keeps the colour in and takes out a lot of manual hand scanning we used to have to do.”
The C7090 will help the business as a backup and on smaller jobs, keeping work flowing when there’s maintenance. It moves into the company’s new signage room which houses its large-format machines.
The new kit will be used to produce a wide range of print products for GD Print customers including credit card welcome packs, booklets and orders of service.
Other equipment at the business includes a Vivid Veloblade flatbed cutter, purchased last year, a Roland UV roll-to-roll printer, an HP Latex and a Summa cutter, along with folders and finishers.
GD Print was founded over 40 years ago by Gary Dobbs. The factory is based in New Milton, Hampshire with a team of eight staff.