"The Kodak Systems have had a huge impact. Image quality has increased from 175lpi to 200lpi and we've reduced our prepress overheads by 50 percent," says Hall. "Previously we were making 200 plates a month manually. But following the installation of the Magnus 400 Platesetter, we've doubled our plate production - and we've done so using less staff. Automating this key area of production means those staff can now do much more than just manufacture plates. For example, they can take on value-adding work, such as correcting art files."

Easypack's investment in the Kodak Solutions has ensured the company is perfectly placed to meet the changing needs of the print industry: "Today, customers want jobs delivered quickly - 48 and 24-hour turnarounds are increasingly common," says Hall. "The Kodak Solutions have ensured we remain very competitive. We're producing top-quality work faster than ever, which makes us very attractive to customers with high-volume, fast-turnaround jobs."

Since implementing the Kodak Prinergy Evo Workflow System, Easypack has eliminated many manual tasks, saving the company time and money. The solution features advanced preflighting, normalizing, color management, and trapping. Plus its easy-to-use interface ensures the shortest possible learning curve for operators: "With the Prinergy Evo Workflow System, we've automated many processes," says Hall. "This not only speeds up production, it also improves accuracy, as human error is eliminated. And if any errors do occur, the solution notifies us automatically."

Easypack has achieved highly accurate proofs after implementing Kodak Proofing Software, helping the company avoid costly rework: "Tracking takes no time and is done automatically," says Hall. "And we're improving margins by minimizing the need for rework. With our old system the job had to be ripped twice. Now, what you see on the proof is exactly what you get on the plate."

Easypack's investment in Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Plates is helping the company adhere to its environmental policy. The plates can deliver the resolution and imaging accuracy of thermal digital plates without processing: "Processless plate production is becoming a key factor for all printers," says Hall. "Customers regularly enquire about our environmental credentials. There is a higher expectation for us to work to certain standards and we continue to pursue the greenest production possible. With the Thermal Direct Non Process Plates we are moving closer to realizing our goals. We no longer use any chemistry in our plate production and crucially, we haven't experienced a dip in quality."

It's not just the environment that's benefitting from Kodak Thermal Direct Non Process Plates - Easypack is also reaping the cost saving rewards of processless plates. Hall continues: "We're making significant savings on chemistry and we no longer have to worry about the costs or hassle associated with disposal."

Hall is unequivocal about Easypack's decision to partner with Kodak and Mayday: "Merging separate businesses into one cohesive, smooth-running operation is a significant challenge. The Kodak solutions have played an integral part in helping us achieve our goal. We're delighted with the impact of our investment. We have a ready-made prepress department, plus the extra capacity to really grow the business and take on a larger and more diverse workload - and all without taking on extra staff and the associated costs."