Colour Solutions
Dundee based web to print business, Tradeprint, has installed GMG ColorServer Hybrid for colour consistency across multiple outputs, increased speed and cost reductions on consumables.
The company is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has been part of the Cimpress family of businesses since 2015. Tradeprint specialises in booklets, brochures and magazines, as well as clothing and merchandise. One of its fastest growing categories is wide format, including rigid boards and flexible banners.
The company is using GMG across its multiple HP Indigos, Canon high speed inkjet devices, litho long perfectors and flexible and rigid large format devices.
Greg Smith, quality and compliance officer at Tradeprint, explains the impetus behind taking on GMG: ‘We had always managed colour directly within the artwork for consistency. As we lacked the ability to set artwork up specifically for each output device, we decided to leverage technology to bring our process up to date.’
Anthony Rowell (left) with Greg Smith.
GMG ColorServer enables Tradeprint to build a library of output profiles by stock and device to ensure maximum consistency across their multiple devices and output conditions. ‘We have achieved reliable colour consistency without impact on customer files – this is leading to improved quality control and happier customers,’ Greg added.
Tradeprint sales and customer success director, Anthony Rowell, is also the company’s sustainability lead, so his focus was on what GMG could bring in terms of both efficiency and sales potential. He said, ‘GMG’s ink optimisation function helps cut the cost of consumables and reduce drying times to keep devices running at full speed.’
GMG InkOptimizer reduces ink spend while maintaining colour quality. It does this through replacing expensive colour inks with black ink and preserving the integrity of the black channel for an enhanced grey balance. It additionally cuts wastage caused by streaking/mottling, while reduced inkjet head wear means less downtime.
Anthony continued, ‘From a sales point of view, GMG ColorServer provides additional confidence and enables us to pursue higher end, more colour critical work.’
Predictable and consistent colour is particularly important across the advertising, publishing and packaging businesses with which Tradeprint works. The company leverages technology to optimise production flows and keep print costs at a level where they are hugely competitive for customers.
Greg explained, ‘That is why we work with GMG Color – to ensure we have world leading colour management capabilities in-house. It is not just the software solutions but also the in-depth know how from GMG that benefits us. We were impressed by the knowledge and commitment to getting the best out of the implementation for us.’
GMG ColorServer integrates into Tradeprint’s production workflow software – files can be passed via its MIS system, enabling the company to share ink optimisation in the workflow. Tradeprint is planning a further roll out of ColorServer. ‘As we bring additional manufacturing stream online, we will have GMG at the top of the list to support us with colour management. Next steps will be to introduce this to our third party fulfiller network,’ said Greg.
Paul Williams, sales manager at GMG Color, concluded: ‘With such a varied set up of digital and litho presses printing on different materials, and a discerning client base, Tradeprint was an ideal candidate for GMG ColorServer. Its core capability is standardising colour across multiple variables according to defined print standards. We look forward to building on the successful install and working more with Greg and Anthony at Tradeprint.’
