SOS boost Shiremoor via new Konica Minolta press, colour audit and plate upgrade

Newcastle’s Shiremoor Press has just installed a new Konica Minolta Accuriopress C7090, supplied by SOS. The machine represents new capacity for the company which is retaining eight-year-old Konica as a back-up machine.

“We are familiar with Konica Minolta, which was an advantage for them, but when we’re making an investment we always check every option. Our research concluded that C7090 was the right machine for us,” said Operations Director Joe Burke.

Mr Burke said that there were two key factors which helped SOS and Konica Minolta win the deal. “The first is the quality of the print this machine can produce, which is exceptional, but most importantly those results can be achieved quickly, reliably and consistently. We specified the C7090 with KM’s IQ-501 unit, which offers fast set ups and will colour correct on-the-fly, and also offers back-to-back registration which has been an issue in the past.

“Our workload is extremely diverse, which means stock flexibility was important. The C7080 will print an extra-long sheet enabling six-page A4, but most importantly will duplex thicker materials up to 400gsm which is ideal for our carton manufacturing.”

The market for proofing and short production runs in the packaging sector is a growing part of the Shiremoor workload, but versatility remains key as the company aims to fulfil the broadest possible work profile in-house. In addition to digital the company also prints using a five colour SRA2 litho press and numerous wide format machines.

“Cross platform consistency was another issue which SOS has solved for us,” said Joe. “SOS sent a colour specialist to make that happen, he looked at our pre-press, CTP, litho and digital to calibrate our entire operation to Fogra 51 standards. As it happens, the Konica Minolta was the most accurate machine – SOS made sure the rest of our output was up to the same standard!”

SOS has also been instrumental in switching the company’s platemaking over to processless plates. “We now use Kodak Sonora plates from SOS which makes CTP a much cleaner and more eco-friendly process,” says Joe. “Since we are removing the processor it also reduces the floorspace required.”

With its influence on Shiremoor’s digital print, colour matching and platemaking, SOS has certainly had an impact on Shiremoor lately, which Joe Burke is pleased to acknowledge. “SOS is a reliable partner, they are always happy to take a call, they don’t just supply kit, they help us as a business.”

Shiremoor is a general commercial printer with 15 versatile staff described as ‘multi operational,’ meaning most can switch between departments as required. The company has successfully adjusted to changes brought on by the pandemic, with a fall in retail work offset by modest growth from the corporate and education sectors.