CJ King Invests in New Speedmaster SM 74 Perfector Press
07-07-2011
CJ King & Co., Printers (Perth) has recently installed a new
Speedmaster SM 74 eight colour perfector press (SM74-8-P). Managing
Director Chris King talks about the motivation for the purchase of
the new press and how the past two years has seen considerable
change to the company's operations.
"We are wholesale trade printers so when the GFC hit the market and our customers started to lose work we had to make changes to accommodate the downturn," explains Chris whose company has been in operation for 18 years and for the most part, a thriving profitable business.
Responding to the changes in the market, CJ King embarked on a program of consolidation removing a number of older, smaller presses at their Perth site and replacing them with the new SM74-8-P, which Chris says is the ideal platform for run lengths over 5000. "Heidelberg's got a great product for our market. For slightly longer runs you can't beat the eight colour perfector, it just eats work".
He continues. "People thought we were mad investing in a high-end machine like this, but you have to work with the latest technology to ensure you are maximising your opportunities and are able to respond quickly to market demands. Trying to continue to do business in the same way we've done it before when we know the market has shifted is counter productive. There's no point soldiering on with outdated gear because that won't improve your bottom line".
"We decided to go for the best press we could possibly get to enable us to produce the high quality work we are known for and to meet increased turnaround times. We are working to a 48-hour turnaround (on most jobs), so it makes sense to employ the right technology to allow you to print competitively."
Working with state of the art technology also is a benefit to staff says Chris. "We have great people working the presses and really making them hum. Professionals want to work with the latest equipment to improve their own knowledge base, so having the best equipment helps us retain the best people".
And to ensure the rest of the workflow can keep up with the SM74-8-P the company has also invested in finishing equipment. "We can now do everything in house, we are a true one-stop shop," states Chris.
CJ King runs two shifts out of its Perth facility with the majority of work gang run jobs, which are produced on the SM74-8-P. The company also operates a similar sized site in Queensland on the Gold Coast. Of the Queensland operation Chris says, "I think we've turned the corner. We've been quite steady in terms of volume for a number of months now which means our clients are moving out of the slump". And business in Perth is also starting to pick up.
Why did he choose the SM74-8-P? "We've been a Heidelberg house since the beginning, but I always look around to see what else is on the market. The Speedmaster 74 is at the top of its class and I believe long term it will return value for money. Plus we have an excellent relationship with Heidelberg, they know our business and what we want to achieve and are prepared to work with us. With Heidelberg we get the support we need".
In conclusion he says, "It's been a hard couple of years, but with our newly configured production plants and an upswing in the market, things are definitely looking brighter".
"We are wholesale trade printers so when the GFC hit the market and our customers started to lose work we had to make changes to accommodate the downturn," explains Chris whose company has been in operation for 18 years and for the most part, a thriving profitable business.
Responding to the changes in the market, CJ King embarked on a program of consolidation removing a number of older, smaller presses at their Perth site and replacing them with the new SM74-8-P, which Chris says is the ideal platform for run lengths over 5000. "Heidelberg's got a great product for our market. For slightly longer runs you can't beat the eight colour perfector, it just eats work".
He continues. "People thought we were mad investing in a high-end machine like this, but you have to work with the latest technology to ensure you are maximising your opportunities and are able to respond quickly to market demands. Trying to continue to do business in the same way we've done it before when we know the market has shifted is counter productive. There's no point soldiering on with outdated gear because that won't improve your bottom line".
"We decided to go for the best press we could possibly get to enable us to produce the high quality work we are known for and to meet increased turnaround times. We are working to a 48-hour turnaround (on most jobs), so it makes sense to employ the right technology to allow you to print competitively."
Working with state of the art technology also is a benefit to staff says Chris. "We have great people working the presses and really making them hum. Professionals want to work with the latest equipment to improve their own knowledge base, so having the best equipment helps us retain the best people".
And to ensure the rest of the workflow can keep up with the SM74-8-P the company has also invested in finishing equipment. "We can now do everything in house, we are a true one-stop shop," states Chris.
CJ King runs two shifts out of its Perth facility with the majority of work gang run jobs, which are produced on the SM74-8-P. The company also operates a similar sized site in Queensland on the Gold Coast. Of the Queensland operation Chris says, "I think we've turned the corner. We've been quite steady in terms of volume for a number of months now which means our clients are moving out of the slump". And business in Perth is also starting to pick up.
Why did he choose the SM74-8-P? "We've been a Heidelberg house since the beginning, but I always look around to see what else is on the market. The Speedmaster 74 is at the top of its class and I believe long term it will return value for money. Plus we have an excellent relationship with Heidelberg, they know our business and what we want to achieve and are prepared to work with us. With Heidelberg we get the support we need".
In conclusion he says, "It's been a hard couple of years, but with our newly configured production plants and an upswing in the market, things are definitely looking brighter".
