Easypack/POP Lands Overhauls Prepress Department and Targets Growth with Kodak's Thermal CTP Technology

Suffolk based Easypack/Pop Displays Group, a leading UK printer in the POP and Packaging sectors has transformed its print infrastructure after investing in the Kodak Magnus 400 Platesetter imaging Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Plates. Since installing the Kodak System, the packaging, display and litho printing company has boosted its plate production speed and increased capacity. With the additional productivity, Easypack can better respond to trends in the print market, such as the shift toward high-volume, fast-turnaround work. The company has also invested in Kodak Prinergy Evo Workflow System and Kodak Proofing Software. The Kodak Magnus 400 Platesetter was supplied by one of Kodak's premier dealers, Mayday Graphic Products Limited, which provided Easypack with expert consultancy throughout its purchasing process.

Established in 1977, Easypack now offers a complete supply chain solution. It is the only UK packaging company that offers commercial print, carton board packaging, corrugated packaging, POP displays and co-packing / fulfillment from a single site. With around 50 staff, the forward-thinking company currently holds approved supplier status for a number of leading brands, including Tesco.

Chris Hall, managing director at Easypack, explains the company's switch from conventional platemaking: "The company has undergone a merger, which saw the litho and commercial businesses incorporated into the packaging operation. We needed a set-up that would unite these divisions and enable us to work as efficiently and productively as possible."

Ageing systems were also causing difficulties. Remedying the issue, however, was proving expensive and the Easypack needed a long-term solution: "Some of our equipment was more than ten years old, which inevitably caused production problems," continues Hall. "We were experiencing film and plate development issues - line and spots etc - which only showed up once the job was on press. Consequently, the plates had to be re-made, which meant lost time and profit. Ultimately, our limited production capacity was making some work difficult to deliver."

Easypack carefully assessed the solutions on the market before opting for the Kodak Magnus 400 Platesetter: "Investing in innovative print technologies is one of the cornerstones of our success; it was essential that we installed a system that best suited our needs," adds Hall. "The advice and support we received from Mayday and Kodak was excellent. Both companies listened carefully to what we wanted to achieve. After witnessing a demonstration of Kodak Prinergy Evo Workflow System in action, and running on-site plate trials using the processless Kodak Thermal Direct Plates, it was clear that the Kodak Solutions were right for us."

Kodak and Mayday were on hand to assist with the installation: "The companies went that extra mile and helped sort out any issues - for example, they took the time to make sure we got the print curves right for food-grade inks."

The Kodak Magnus 400 Platesetter has revolutionized Easypack's prepress platemaking department and enabled the company to make big savings. The high-performance system can image 32 plates per hour whilst delivering excellent productivity and image quality, with support for 10-micron Kodak STACCATO Screening Technology.