Pro-Print strengthens its ties with Komori

Komori Lithrone LS29 Press

Meeting the exacting demands of South Africa's leading pharmaceutical manufacturers is no easy task for any printing and packaging converter. Earning a reputation as a respected specialist means keeping abreast of market trends and investing in leading-edge technologies that deliver premium-quality, competitively-priced products and finishes.

One company that has found a recipe for success, even in the toughest economic climates, is Pro-Print, based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. For 49 years, continual investment in prepress and production equipment and workflow systems has been top priority for CEO, Barry Roberts and his dedicated team. In January this year, Pro-Print completed the most ambitious factory expansion and upgrade to date, facilitating the introduction of advanced printing and finishing systems.

Included in the project was the purchase of a new-generation sheetfed six-colour Komori Lithrone LS29 press, supplied by exclusive local distributor, Kemtek Print Solutions.

'We're currently the largest Komori user in the Southern Hemisphere, with 11 Komori presses among our fleet of 21 printing machines,’ states Pro-Print MD, Yvette Roberts. ‘Much of our success with the brand stems from the consistent print quality and productivity we achieve, plus the on-going support we receive from the Kemtek team. Purchasing the new press was a strategic move based on our future growth plans.'

The LS29 is a high-performance, robust machine that features the latest-generation Komori KHS-AI integrated control system designed to provide quick start-up and minimise board waste.

With conventional Komori KHS systems, the ink film on the rollers is set in advance according to the image on the plate and ink spreads across the rollers so that colour matching is facilitated from start-up. However, some printers invariably make fine adjustments based on their own quality standards or customer specifications. Slight colour changes can also occur depending on the substrate and environmental factors. To tackle such variables, the KHS-AI system's self-learning function automatically performs optimal colour matching by merging these fine adjustments with the colour changes.

Pro-Print's LS29 also offers a powerful solution to profitable short runs, accomplishing a maximum printing speed of 16 000 sheets/hour and requiring 50% less set-up time than its predecessor, the LS28.

'Keeping production costs to a minimum without compromising on quality is vitally important in our business and the LS29, with the advanced KHS-AI system technology and quick set-up, provides everything we need to extend our top-class printing capabilities and maximise efficiency,' comments Yvette. 'As always, Kemtek's technical specialists have assisted us with all our pre and post-installation requirements and operator training, ensuring first-class production from the start.'

According to Kemtek CEO, Gavin van Rensburg, there's no mistaking why Komori printing presses are first choice for many of South Africa's leading printing companies. 'Overall, Komori offers "best in class" reliability, productivity and cost of ownership,' he states. 'They can always be relied upon to deliver the highest quality print with speed and precision and we're delighted that the Pro-Print team has once again placed its trust and confidence in Komori and Kemtek Print Solutions.'

Backing up its national customer service guarantee, Kemtek Print Solutions has recently extended its national technical support services, ensuring that each dedicated region is self-sufficient with regards to all pre- and post-installation requirements.

About Kemtek Print Solutions

Kemtek Print Solutions is a comprehensive supplier of raw materials and equipment to the printing industry in Southern Africa. Its key distributions are Agfa Graphics, Flint Photopolymer plates, Komori presses, HP Indigo digital presses and materials, Screen workflow and computer-to-plate systems, including software and hardware for flexographic plates, Duplo finishing systems, Durst Industrial Inkjet Printers as well as Scodix digital embossing presses and materials.