Baldwin is First Choice For Brazilian Printer

5/30/2003

May 30, 2003

In a drive to increase production and reduce costs to customers, Brazilian commercial printer Plural Editora e Grafica has installed an automatic blanket cleaning system from Baldwin Technology Company, Inc. for its new four-colour 48-page Heidelberg Sunday M4000. The investment coincides with the installation of an Agfa Excalibur CTP system and the move to new 120,000 sq.ft premises. Plural Editora e Grafica's new Sunday M4000 is the first such press to be installed with Baldwin's IMPACT® system in Brazil.

Following the company's joint venture with Quad/Graphics and the subsequent incorporation into one of the largest communications groups in Brazil ‚ Grupo Folha ‚ in 1997, Plural, which prints a range of coloured magazines and catalogues, looked at expanding its production capabilities. "It became apparent in the difficult economic climate that we needed to step up production and increase capacity, which would, in turn, reduce our operational costs and make us a cost-effective printing solution to clients," says Peter Ens, production director. "Once we'd decided on the Sunday M4000, we didn't hesitate in deciding what was needed to further increase the efficiency of the press. Baldwin's equipment was, without question, our first choice."

Plural is well experienced in the benefits of IMPACT® - its three existing M1000-B presses are fitted with Baldwin's cleaning system. "The need to reduce costs whilst strengthening our position in the market place was the main force behind the investment and having used Baldwin's IMPACT® system for many years, its efficiency was proven. I knew that the installation of the equipment would be faultless and quick, thus guaranteeing a fast return of investment," says Mr Ens.

The self-contained IMPACT® automated cleaning system consists of a PREPAC® washcloth supply roll, an airpad to bring PREPAC® into position for cleaning and an air cylinder to advance the take-up shaft, to provide a consistent cleaning process that reduces make-ready times and lowers consumption of washcloth rolls resulting in savings for the printer.

The PREPAC® washcloth rolls are impregnated with an environmentally-friendly cleaning agent.

Says Mr Ens: "Environmental safety and reducing the level of harmful VOCs in the pressroom is very important to us. By using only the precise amount of low VOC cleaning agent and keeping it contained within the roll, IMPACT® completely eliminates solvent handling for us."

Plural's existing experience of IMPACT® means that training on the system has been minimal. "Our operators are obviously very familiar in running the system but IMPACT®'s operation is very user-friendly and its touch screen controls are trouble-free and easy," says Mr Ens. Using the control panel, press operators simply select the press units that need to be cleaned and the degree of cleaning required.

Furthermore, Plural Editora e Grafica is confident of Baldwin's high level of service. "We have been extremely satisfied with the service we have received from Baldwin Brazil over the years. A big difference we have found between Baldwin and other suppliers is that the relationship doesn't just stop once the sale has been made," concludes Mr Ens.

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