 RMGT celebrates its tenth anniversary of the launch of its groundbreaking LED-UV curing technology for offset presses. Discover how automated technologies has made the RMGT 9 series press the dominate choice for the 8-up offset press market, with over 700 presses installed worldwide 
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Laser Reproduction, the only full-size and full-service printing company based in downtown Toronto, Ontario, just installed a NEW RMGT 9 Series sheetfed offset press. This new system will not only complement their existing 40” press but replaces their 15-year-old RMGT 7 series press. Manufactured by RYOBI MHI Graphic Technology and purchased through Canadian distributor KBR Graphics, the new press is equipped with automatic plate changing, smart make-ready technology and LED-UV instant curing.
The RMGT 9 series press has proven to be a popular investment choice having, in recent years, over fifty North American installations. Laser Reproduction is the first printer in Canada to install the larger sized configuration, the RMGT 940, which is capable for running 25x37” sheets.
The RMGT 9 series press has proven to be a popular investment choice having, in recent years, over fifty North American installations. Laser Reproduction is the first printer in Canada to install the larger sized configuration, the RMGT 940, which is capable for running 25x37” sheets.
| “Our previous RMGT press was certainly great. In the 15 years that we ran the press, we only placed a handful service calls. It was the obvious choice for us to re-invest in RMGT for our new acquisition” said Andy Wong, president of Laser Reproduction “We added some great new features that will increase our productivity and will provide added-value to our outputs”. The compact press footprint was also major factor in making his decision. “As a downtown Toronto printer real estate is at a premium and the ability to have an 8-up press in virtually the same space as my older 29-inch allowed me to maintain the same production area” adds Mr. Wong. |  The RMGT 940 |
The RMGT 9 series press offers key cost advantages for today’s price competitive printing market when handling a wide range of printing jobs, from A1 posters to 8-up printing of 8.5x11 inch. It offers the ideal solution for 8-up, 16-Page signatures on a single sheet with exceptional cost performance.
Mr. Wong stated that “We faced the overwhelming challenge to be competitive while remaining profitable, especially when printing small lots in short delivery times. The RMGT 9 press that we installed allows us to offer competitive priced high-quality jobs in shorter delays.”
Laser Reproductions has a history of implementing leading edge technologies. They were the first in Canada to install the multi-substrate MGI 8700 XL digital press and were very early adaptors of finishing-automation by investing in automated bindery equipment from Standard/Horizon in 2006. Their high-end clients have elevated expectations, and with new RMGT press’ smart make-ready technology and automation, they will add to their printing capabilities and offer their clients even more services such as printing on plastics and metalized paper, and the ability to print white.
Mr. Wong stated that “We faced the overwhelming challenge to be competitive while remaining profitable, especially when printing small lots in short delivery times. The RMGT 9 press that we installed allows us to offer competitive priced high-quality jobs in shorter delays.”
Laser Reproductions has a history of implementing leading edge technologies. They were the first in Canada to install the multi-substrate MGI 8700 XL digital press and were very early adaptors of finishing-automation by investing in automated bindery equipment from Standard/Horizon in 2006. Their high-end clients have elevated expectations, and with new RMGT press’ smart make-ready technology and automation, they will add to their printing capabilities and offer their clients even more services such as printing on plastics and metalized paper, and the ability to print white.
Downtown Toronto’s Only Full-Size Printshop
LED-UV technology has greatly increased Laser Reproduction’s print quality. It instantly cures ink on the paper even at high speed and ink is not absorbed, thus producing a sharper image with exceptional ink vibrancy especially on uncoated stocks. LED-UV also provides a much quicker turnaround time, due to instant drying of the ink; there’s no waiting time between running a second pass or moving a job to the bindery. LED-UV ink curing also provides a cleaner and safer workplace with its ability to print without heat, odor or powder spray and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) “The instant drying of cold cure LED UV technology allows for immediate backing up of jobs with no need to rack or worry about set-off issues” adds Mr. Wong.
KBR Graphics is the exclusive Canadian distributor of RMGT presses and the leading Canadian provider of print and print-finishing solutions. “We have worked in partnership with Mr. Wong for over a decade on several projects and we are confident that their new press is going to more than live up to the expectations.” Said Steve Klaric, Sales Manager at KBR Graphics.
ABOUT KBR GRAPHICS LTD.
With 40 years of dedicated sales and service support, KBR Graphics Ltd. is a major supplier to the Canadian printing industry. The company is a leading provider of digital and offset, print finishing and bindery solutions representing major manufacturers including Standard/Horizon, Graphic Whizard, OKI,
KBR Graphics is the exclusive Canadian distributor of RMGT presses and the leading Canadian provider of print and print-finishing solutions. “We have worked in partnership with Mr. Wong for over a decade on several projects and we are confident that their new press is going to more than live up to the expectations.” Said Steve Klaric, Sales Manager at KBR Graphics.
ABOUT KBR GRAPHICS LTD.
With 40 years of dedicated sales and service support, KBR Graphics Ltd. is a major supplier to the Canadian printing industry. The company is a leading provider of digital and offset, print finishing and bindery solutions representing major manufacturers including Standard/Horizon, Graphic Whizard, OKI,
Doubling Capacity Again in Two Years……The Push Solution
NEW BERLIN, WI — July 19, 2018 - When Brad Flagge, Nick Bova and Craig Inglish commissioned their first RMGT 9 Series press powered by LED-UV curing in the spring of 2016 Push Solutions was already on an incredible growth trajectory in the highly competitive Retail Marketing, Retail Packaging and Nationwide Distribution segment of the Print Market. Compared to their legacy Heidelberg equipment the first RMGT 9 more than tripled capacity, but within 18 months of installing press #1 Push Solutions impressive sales efforts again overtaxed their production.
“To be honest our strategic plan didn't include a second RMGT 9 in year 2 since that major investment,” states Nick Bova, Vice President, Push Solutions, “but our growth is practically being forced on us so we again worked with Graphco to keep our production levels in line with our sales volume.” Push Solutions’ President, Brad Flagge, adds, “Our first RMGT 9 has been a great producer for us, and we feel our manufacturing cost is significantly less than our competitors, so pairing up on our second press was a natural.” Another clear advantage Push Solutions enjoys is their speed to market due to their RMGT’s efficiency and the instant curing of LED-UV.
Even in the two short years since their March 2016 installation, the number of projects that now require three to six or more touches after printing are growing each week. “Now that we can offer our demanding client base everything from marketing materials, to point of sale signage, and even the folding cartons that contain the products our printing helps sell, we can engage with our clients in so many more ways.” comments Bova. Beginning very early in the implementation of their first RMGT 9, it was clear that producing synthetics, plastics, vinyl and foil materials would really leverage the power of LED-UV technology for Push Solutions and today running these substrates is routine. “Our customers love our quality, turn-around time and the fact that our plastics printing doesn't leave an odor like traditional UV. POS is about more than just print. Delivering a nearly odorless product gives us an edge against many of the old guard plastics houses.”
Push Solutions’ second 9 Series press, installed in March of 2018, shares a similar configuration to their first press. This includes a full array of RMGT technology like the patented Smart Insta.Color Make-ready technology, 16,000 Sheet Per Hour production speeds and LED-UV Curing along with IR/Hot Air drying to provide Aqueous Coating when it’s appropriate for their customers’ needs. This press uses LED-UV curing technology provided by Graphco’s prime LED-UV partner GEW UV based in Crawley, England.
“We configured this press to allow for the maximum flexibility in docking positions and application options.” states Derek Gordon, Midwest Regional Manager for Graphco. “The high output GEW lamp along with the ability to dock that lamp anywhere on the press was key to opening up options for Brad and Nick. And GEW’s IoT (Internet of Things) approach to tech support means that the GEW lamp curing in New Berlin, Wisconsin is being monitored 100% of the time from GEW’s headquarters in England.”
“To say we are proud and pleased to partner with a dynamic and successful company like Push Solutions would be a gross understatement,” says Chris Manley, President of Graphco. “It’s so rewarding to see folks like Brad, Nick and Craig making such great use of the tools we provide. All the credit for their amazing growth goes to these three gentlemen and the whole Push Solutions team. We are proud of the company we keep.” Recently, Brad Flagge has kidded Gordon that he’s putting a sign up on the entry to their building warning salesmen that he was out of room and power for any more equipment. Push Solutions’ customers might have something to say about that. To learn more about Push Solutions please visit www.push-solutions.com
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in North America by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in the U.S. and Canada. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. As innovators of the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing in 2008, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services while building bonds of trust and respecting diverse values. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
Founded in 1995, One Step Inc., based in Davenport, IA, began as a digital-only shop, and didn’t install their first offset press until 2002. “We were reluctant to get out of digital and into offset,” May noted, “but hybrid printing drove us into combining the offset and digital production lines.”
“When you look at digital, and where it’s at, we found the offset cost per impression and the throughput speeds just made more sense than going after digital.”
One Step purchased and installed an RMGT 9 Series Offset Press and also invested in the LED-UV technology upgrade, making it a powerful addition to their operation.
“We choose this press because of its LED-UV curing technology,” said Doug May, President at One Step. “It has a faster speed to market, with no dry time and no coatings needed on 95% of the jobs we run. And then you add in the ability to run shorter runs cost effectively — it’s application based, but we have run as few as 2,000 8.5x11-inch sheets — and it was a great investment.”
“Reliability and cost per copy come into play when comparing digital and offset,” May said. “With the big press, we always know exactly what the cost and throughput will be, every time. Not to mention, if a technician comes in to service a digital press during a shift, you’re down; offset requires less maintenance so the shop has more up time.”
“When you look at digital, and where it’s at, we found the offset cost per impression and the throughput speeds just made more sense than going after digital.”
One Step purchased and installed an RMGT 9 Series Offset Press and also invested in the LED-UV technology upgrade, making it a powerful addition to their operation.
“We choose this press because of its LED-UV curing technology,” said Doug May, President at One Step. “It has a faster speed to market, with no dry time and no coatings needed on 95% of the jobs we run. And then you add in the ability to run shorter runs cost effectively — it’s application based, but we have run as few as 2,000 8.5x11-inch sheets — and it was a great investment.”
“Reliability and cost per copy come into play when comparing digital and offset,” May said. “With the big press, we always know exactly what the cost and throughput will be, every time. Not to mention, if a technician comes in to service a digital press during a shift, you’re down; offset requires less maintenance so the shop has more up time.”
See live demonstrations of the RMGT 9 Series offset press with LED-UV Technology and SMART RPC Plate Changing Technology.
East and West Coast Open House Events
Bryton Printing, Anaheim, California is hosting an Open House on Thursday, June 28th, 2018 from 4:30 - 6:00pm.
See the newly installed RMGT 940ST-5-LED-UV Offset Press.
3345 E Miraloma Ave, Suite 134
Anaheim, CA 92806
For details call (800) 398-5283.
East and West Coast Open House Events
Bryton Printing, Anaheim, California is hosting an Open House on Thursday, June 28th, 2018 from 4:30 - 6:00pm.
See the newly installed RMGT 940ST-5-LED-UV Offset Press.
3345 E Miraloma Ave, Suite 134
Anaheim, CA 92806
For details call (800) 398-5283.
ANAHEIM, CA — June 18, 2018 — Print and Finishing Solutions (PFS) will be hosting a special RMGT event at Bryton Printing on Thursday, June 28, from 4:30-6:00 pm. The event will showcase the new RMGT 940 LED-UV press Bryton Printing installed earlier this year.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to see the RMGT difference for themselves, up close and in person,” said Kian Hemmen, Western Region Sales Manager, RMGT, Print & Finishing Solutions. “This press is transforming offset print businesses across the country, and we are excited to offer printers the opportunity to see for themselves why it is gaining so much buzz.”
“This is an opportunity for everyone to see the RMGT difference for themselves, up close and in person,” said Kian Hemmen, Western Region Sales Manager, RMGT, Print & Finishing Solutions. “This press is transforming offset print businesses across the country, and we are excited to offer printers the opportunity to see for themselves why it is gaining so much buzz.”
The Open House will be part of PFS’ first Horizon Discovery Days event it is holding at it’s own facilities a mile away. That event will feature two days of educational seminars that will focus on addressing top-level challenges facing today’s print industry, as well as what printers can do to boost their productivity and improve operations. The Bryton Printing Open House will be held the evening of the first day of the event, with attendees invited to come see the RMGT 9 Series running live, as well as get the opportunity to talk to a peer about the real-world uses of the press.
The Bryton Printing Open House will be part of the PFS Horizon Discovery Days, and those interested in attending can register at http://horizon.pfs.events/. In addition to the Open House and educational sessions, PFS will have a variety of other equipment running live throughout the event, including finishing options and digital equipment.
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in North America by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in the U.S. and Canada. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. As innovators of the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing in 2008, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services while building bonds of trust and respecting diverse values. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
About Print & Finishing Solutions (PFS)
Print & Finishing Solutions (PFS) is the largest graphic arts service and supplies company west of the Mississippi. It services California, the country, and the world with quality new and used machinery, installation and training, and post-sale support. Specializing in new and refurbished machinery, parts, supplies, and service for the print and graphics industry, PFS supports commercial printers and binderies of all sizes as well as digital printers and corporate and public in-plants. Within its facility, PFS offers two demonstration centers catering to both commercial offset / bindery and digital solutions. The Commercial Showroom features the latest machinery from RMGT, Horizon, Challenge, Perfecta, and Preferred Pack. The Digital / On-Demand Showroom features the latest products from MGI, OkiData, Mimaki, Rhin-O-Tuff, MBM, James Burn, DRYLAM, and others.
The Bryton Printing Open House will be part of the PFS Horizon Discovery Days, and those interested in attending can register at http://horizon.pfs.events/. In addition to the Open House and educational sessions, PFS will have a variety of other equipment running live throughout the event, including finishing options and digital equipment.
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in North America by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in the U.S. and Canada. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. As innovators of the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing in 2008, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services while building bonds of trust and respecting diverse values. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
About Print & Finishing Solutions (PFS)
Print & Finishing Solutions (PFS) is the largest graphic arts service and supplies company west of the Mississippi. It services California, the country, and the world with quality new and used machinery, installation and training, and post-sale support. Specializing in new and refurbished machinery, parts, supplies, and service for the print and graphics industry, PFS supports commercial printers and binderies of all sizes as well as digital printers and corporate and public in-plants. Within its facility, PFS offers two demonstration centers catering to both commercial offset / bindery and digital solutions. The Commercial Showroom features the latest machinery from RMGT, Horizon, Challenge, Perfecta, and Preferred Pack. The Digital / On-Demand Showroom features the latest products from MGI, OkiData, Mimaki, Rhin-O-Tuff, MBM, James Burn, DRYLAM, and others.
ANAHEIM, CA — April 4, 2018 — Bryton Printing, based in Anaheim, Calf., has purchased the RMGT 9 Series LED-UV press, expected to be installed by the end of May 2018. The new press will allow the shop to expand their capacity and capabilities, giving them a competitive edge over others in their local market.
“For a while it has felt like we were ready for a bigger press,” said Jeff Weston, owner of the shop. “The reason we got the press is that it is just better suited to the market. The RMGT 9 Series is less expensive to operate, and less costly for things like electricity, plus it uses a lot less floor space.”
Weston has the website NextDayPoster.com - a website dedicated to poster production. “It’s almost a slogan for us, ‘we’re perfect for 50 posters or more’. A lot of machines can do one or two posters, but as that number goes up costs increase,” Weston said. He noted that with the RMGT 9 Series, not only will they be able to do this “sweet spot” of run lengths more efficiently and for lower costs, it will also allow them to offer a much wider range of sizes, without compromising on their quality or turn-around times. “The new press can do 24x36 inches, which is about double the press we have now. We’re hoping that doubles our market.”
Weston noted that other applications they are anticipating moving to the RMGT 9 Series press include booklets, folding cartons, and a variety of projects on synthetic stocks, which he says are in high demand right now. His overall goal isn’t to try and replace digital technologies, or try to capture the one-off or extremely short runs that digital is made for. Rather, says Weston, “the idea is to be compatible with those who do digital, but when orders becomes too large for them, they get a request for a higher quantity or more pages, we can blend perfectly into that world. One of the big advantages of UV ink is that things are dry the second they come off the press, same as digital, so we’re compatible.”
One of the big draws for Bryton Printing to go with the RMGT 9 Series instead of another press was that for half the price of other offset presses in it’s size category, this equipment can do 90% of what those machines are capable of. The shop has also had good luck with the brand — this will be their 5th RMGT press since they opened their doors in 1983. “Between brand familiarity, UV, and price point, that’s what led us to this press,” said Weston.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Jeff and Bryton Printing, we are positive the RMGT 9 Series LEDUV machine is going to more than live up to the expectations. Bryton Printing is a special business partner for us, being located 2 miles from our California Technology Center and a long time RYOBI customer. It is always great to see customers grow their business with us” said Kian Hemmen, Director of Sales, Print & Finishing Solutions, a member of the Graphic Systems North America (GSNA) dealer alliance. “This press fits perfectly into their growth strategy well into the future, and we are excited to get it up and running, and see just how far they can go. We are looking forward to continuing to support Bryton Printing in all of their endeavors for many years to come.”
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in North America by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in the U.S. and Canada. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. As innovators of the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing in 2008, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services while building bonds of trust and respecting diverse values. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
“For a while it has felt like we were ready for a bigger press,” said Jeff Weston, owner of the shop. “The reason we got the press is that it is just better suited to the market. The RMGT 9 Series is less expensive to operate, and less costly for things like electricity, plus it uses a lot less floor space.”
Weston has the website NextDayPoster.com - a website dedicated to poster production. “It’s almost a slogan for us, ‘we’re perfect for 50 posters or more’. A lot of machines can do one or two posters, but as that number goes up costs increase,” Weston said. He noted that with the RMGT 9 Series, not only will they be able to do this “sweet spot” of run lengths more efficiently and for lower costs, it will also allow them to offer a much wider range of sizes, without compromising on their quality or turn-around times. “The new press can do 24x36 inches, which is about double the press we have now. We’re hoping that doubles our market.”
Weston noted that other applications they are anticipating moving to the RMGT 9 Series press include booklets, folding cartons, and a variety of projects on synthetic stocks, which he says are in high demand right now. His overall goal isn’t to try and replace digital technologies, or try to capture the one-off or extremely short runs that digital is made for. Rather, says Weston, “the idea is to be compatible with those who do digital, but when orders becomes too large for them, they get a request for a higher quantity or more pages, we can blend perfectly into that world. One of the big advantages of UV ink is that things are dry the second they come off the press, same as digital, so we’re compatible.”
One of the big draws for Bryton Printing to go with the RMGT 9 Series instead of another press was that for half the price of other offset presses in it’s size category, this equipment can do 90% of what those machines are capable of. The shop has also had good luck with the brand — this will be their 5th RMGT press since they opened their doors in 1983. “Between brand familiarity, UV, and price point, that’s what led us to this press,” said Weston.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Jeff and Bryton Printing, we are positive the RMGT 9 Series LEDUV machine is going to more than live up to the expectations. Bryton Printing is a special business partner for us, being located 2 miles from our California Technology Center and a long time RYOBI customer. It is always great to see customers grow their business with us” said Kian Hemmen, Director of Sales, Print & Finishing Solutions, a member of the Graphic Systems North America (GSNA) dealer alliance. “This press fits perfectly into their growth strategy well into the future, and we are excited to get it up and running, and see just how far they can go. We are looking forward to continuing to support Bryton Printing in all of their endeavors for many years to come.”
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in North America by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in the U.S. and Canada. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. As innovators of the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing in 2008, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services while building bonds of trust and respecting diverse values. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
Tipping point for moving jobs from digital to offset down to 250 sheets
PASADENA, CA — March 16, 2018 — House of Printing is a family business, currently under the third generation of ownership. It began in 1942, and while it has seen some changes over the years, it has continued to be a shop that serves a variety of markets, with today’s equipment including both offset and digital presses, and a wide range of finishing options. However, both of their offset presses were aging — both were used when they purchased them, with the two-color purchased in 1985, and the four-color purchased in 1991. It was time for an upgrade.
“They were older technology,” said Andrew Pittroff, Vice President of Operations. “They were still in good condition, but they were slow, and makeready was especially slow. We could only get away with doing 2-3 jobs a day just because makeready took a long time. Hanging plates was close to an hour alone.”
The difference, he noted, is night and day. For example, he said, they had one morning where they had done five sets of plates already, and it wasn’t even noon yet. It’s a different world as far as that’s concerned,” Pittroff said. But it goes beyond faster makereadies, “Automation and color management is much easier,” he pointed out, "and we are also now able to get bigger runs. Where before we were limited by the slower machine and the smaller 4 up format, we are now able to run 8 up — so we can do twice as much on the sheet, and the press will run 50% faster.”
And that added speed and capacity have already paid off. In the few months House of Printing has had the RMGT 9 Series running, they are already doing jobs that previously they would not have been able to handle at all, said Pittroff. “One of our clients is a greeting card company, with probably 200 designs, we have been doing the foil stamping for their line for years, but they were doing the printing on an HP Indigo at another shop. Their quantities are high enough and the RMGT is efficient enough for us to now move the printing over to offset."
Pittroff went on to note that with the RMGT 9 Series press, as long as the runs are at least 250 sheets, which is around 4,000 cards, they are more cost effective for the customer, and more efficient for the shop to produce on offset. “The thing is on the digital press you are paying a click charge, and every sheet you’re getting a cost. On offset, you do have plates and a little more makeready, but once you get the plates hung — which is literally 3 minutes or less — and with faster makeready, we’re ready in less than 100 sheets. So it just opens the door to do shorter runs. You still have the costs of the plates, but everything else is faster.”
“We were overdue for some new equipment,” said Pittroff. “We had never been able to get a 40-inch press before because this is a smaller building and we had some electrical issues — it would have cost a lot to pull in bigger electrical capacity necessary for that size of press. But that’s the beauty of this press — we get the capacity without the hassle.”
“We talk to a lot of print shops like House of Printing, where they have older equipment that is still running, and they are hesitant to upgrade for a variety of reasons,” said Kian Hemmen, Director of Sales, Print & Finishing Solutions, a member of the Graphic Systems North America (GSNA) dealer alliance. “But House of Printing is very clearly illustrating why it is absolutely worth it for those shops who haven’t considered new equipment in a while. The added speed, capabilities and variety of jobs they can now produce is staggering. It will be exciting to see where they go next now that they have the equipment in place to allow them to reach for those new heights.”
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in the US and Canada by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in North America. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. In 2008, RMGT introduced the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing. Today, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
“They were older technology,” said Andrew Pittroff, Vice President of Operations. “They were still in good condition, but they were slow, and makeready was especially slow. We could only get away with doing 2-3 jobs a day just because makeready took a long time. Hanging plates was close to an hour alone.”
The difference, he noted, is night and day. For example, he said, they had one morning where they had done five sets of plates already, and it wasn’t even noon yet. It’s a different world as far as that’s concerned,” Pittroff said. But it goes beyond faster makereadies, “Automation and color management is much easier,” he pointed out, "and we are also now able to get bigger runs. Where before we were limited by the slower machine and the smaller 4 up format, we are now able to run 8 up — so we can do twice as much on the sheet, and the press will run 50% faster.”
And that added speed and capacity have already paid off. In the few months House of Printing has had the RMGT 9 Series running, they are already doing jobs that previously they would not have been able to handle at all, said Pittroff. “One of our clients is a greeting card company, with probably 200 designs, we have been doing the foil stamping for their line for years, but they were doing the printing on an HP Indigo at another shop. Their quantities are high enough and the RMGT is efficient enough for us to now move the printing over to offset."
Pittroff went on to note that with the RMGT 9 Series press, as long as the runs are at least 250 sheets, which is around 4,000 cards, they are more cost effective for the customer, and more efficient for the shop to produce on offset. “The thing is on the digital press you are paying a click charge, and every sheet you’re getting a cost. On offset, you do have plates and a little more makeready, but once you get the plates hung — which is literally 3 minutes or less — and with faster makeready, we’re ready in less than 100 sheets. So it just opens the door to do shorter runs. You still have the costs of the plates, but everything else is faster.”
“We were overdue for some new equipment,” said Pittroff. “We had never been able to get a 40-inch press before because this is a smaller building and we had some electrical issues — it would have cost a lot to pull in bigger electrical capacity necessary for that size of press. But that’s the beauty of this press — we get the capacity without the hassle.”
“We talk to a lot of print shops like House of Printing, where they have older equipment that is still running, and they are hesitant to upgrade for a variety of reasons,” said Kian Hemmen, Director of Sales, Print & Finishing Solutions, a member of the Graphic Systems North America (GSNA) dealer alliance. “But House of Printing is very clearly illustrating why it is absolutely worth it for those shops who haven’t considered new equipment in a while. The added speed, capabilities and variety of jobs they can now produce is staggering. It will be exciting to see where they go next now that they have the equipment in place to allow them to reach for those new heights.”
About RMGT
RMGT is represented in the US and Canada by a group of six authorized sales and service centers that serve commercial printers, offset packaging converters and in-plant printers in North America. This network constitutes the single largest offset press sales and service team in North America. In 2008, RMGT introduced the first LED-UV printing system for sheet-fed offset printing. Today, RMGT continues to apply their technological expertise and creativity for constant innovation, providing the printing industry with meaningful products and services. Learn more about RMGT at www.ryobimhi.com
