Bright Print Group, PrintForce and Whirlwind Print join CMYKhub and Rawson Graphics in a Komori offset press renaissance that signals the end of a long investment drought. It is welcome news for Carsten Wendler, as he takes on the role of managing director, Ferrostaal Australia, the Komori agent.
Over 30 printing Komori units have gone in this year or are scheduled for early installation in commercial printers along the east coast. They are part of an across the board revival in the fortunes of offset press manufacturers with Heidelberg, manroland and Ryobi all reporting sales success in recent months.
According to Rene Simpson, general manager, Ferrostaal, the success of Komori is a tribute to the new ‘on demand’ production philosophy that informs the 90-year-old Japanese press manufacturer. Three of the five installations – CMYKhub, Rawson and whirlwind – utilise Komori H-UV drying, which is rapidly becoming the default technology of the brand. Already in its home market, Japan, H-UV accounts for 70% of the new presses sold.
The innovative drying system is ideally suited for the short run work that is increasingly becoming the default of commercial printers. Trent Nankervis, CMYKhub, has operated an eight-colour H-UV Lithrone for the past five months at his Melbourne facility. He describes it as “this amazing machine.”
“We have a philosophy of ‘Say yes and mean it’ and the H-UV makes it easy to do,” he said. “It is a very reliable press. The print is dry when it comes out – we do a four-minute tape test to check the quality. It means we have no reason to ever say ‘no’ to a customer.”
CMYKhub now prints a 300 lsi default resolution, is operating 24/6 and, according to Nankervis has doubled the tonnage of uncoated stock going through since the Komori was installed.
According to John Bright, managing director, Bright Print Group, it was an easy decision to replace the old Heidelberg 6-colour that was inherited when they bought the NCP Newcastle site in 2011.
“We’re predominately a Komori house here in Sydney. The primary reason was to upgrade the old equipment and bring Newcastle in line with the Sydney operation. Obviously, we hope the move brings further expansion and upskills the employees,” said Bright.
The announcement of the installations came as the Komori executive team of Toshiyasu Kubotera, GM Exports and Toshiyuki Tsugawa, GM Sales, swung through town to update the local industry on the company’s transition to being a print engineering service provider. Forecasting a return to profit in 2014 after two years of loss making, they acknowledge 72% of the business comes from its existing core products. But they are banking on new markets in digital printing, security presses and precision machinery to provide the growth areas.
The executives brought the local industry up to speed on the progress of Komori's cooperation with Konica Minolta in its Impremia inkjet press as well as the ongoing Landa digital project. The new inkjet is due for release early next year, the Landa some time later.
Komori web presses equipped with H-UV are already in operation in Japan as part of the company’s strategy to bring the technology to all parts of the industry. The innovative H-UV produces less ozone and heat than convention and is practically odourless.