The printing, paper and publishing sector has incurred a greater than average fall in the 3 months to November – compared with the previous 3 month period (source: UK Government Statistics).

Print, paper and publishing output fell 4.9% (UK average manufacturing decline of 3.3%). Paper, print and publishing make up 13% of the total UK manufacturing. Print wasn’t the worst sector affected, Transport equipment fell by nearly 6%, as did metal and metal products.

With this gloomy figure in mind, cheer yourself up and have a look at some of our great value credit crunch offers.

2000 A4 full colour letterheads (headed paper) – Only £125 (plus VAT)

Pull Up Banners (Banner Stands) only £99 (plus VAT & Carriage)

500 Full Colour Wallet Folders (Presentation Folders) – Only £273

See Print Buying Direct at The Printing House, Cheshire for more offers and information about printing.

2000 Letterheads only £125

For only £125 (plus VAT) for 2000 A4 full colour letterheads, produced with the same care and attention that we always use. Because this offer is so popular we can benefit from the economies of scale and pass the savings on to you.

• Offer runs until 13th February 2009
• Full Colour letterheads
• 100gsm Fully Laser guaranteed paper
• Printed one side only
• Price includes delivery to one UK address

Prices are based on a print ready pdf being supplied. If you need your letterhead designing please allow an additional £25 (plus VAT)

Click here for more information or to place your order

Call 0870 950 8444

or email info@printbuyingdirect.co.uk Thanks for taking the time to check out our promotion. Please remember that this is for a short period only.

• Ideal for exhibitions, point of sale & displays
• 800mm wide x 2000mm tall
• Graphic Rolls away into foot
• Foot folds away for easy storage and transport
• Supplied with Carry Bag
• Tried and tested reliability

Online Printing Solutions

Print buying direct

is the revolutionary way of ordering printing! Using both conventional printing presses (Litho) and the very latest Xerox digital presses we are able to provide print to anywhere in the UK, quickly with minimum fuss. There are no minimum or maximum quantities for Business Cards, Marketing Postcards, Appointment Cards, Letterheads or colour brochures (we can print pretty much anything you need). So you can have what you want, when you need it.

Print Buying Direct specialise in Business Cards, Postcard Printing, Leaflet Printing, Appointment Card Printing, Letterheads, and more. If you require any items that are not available on this website then please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0870 950 8444.

These are some of our current offers

Business Cards: Now Only £7.50 Per 100

We can produce as little as 100 business cards single or double sided, full colour on a 300 gsm matt or 350 gsm silk board, and despatch them within 2 working days. Try using our business card templates online. We specialise in top quality, cost effective, fast turnaround Business Cards.

Postcards: From just £35 Per 100

Business postcards for marketing. Postcards in full colour on a range of card from 200gsm up to 350gsm matt or silk board, dispatched within 2 working days. Design your business postcards online or let us design them for you.

Appointment Cards: Now Only £7.50 per 100

Premium Appointment Cards for business. Ideal Appointment Cards for many applications such as chiropodists, chiropractors, dental surgeries, doctor and more.

Leaflets: From Just £36 Per 100

Quick leaflet printing, quick delivery and top quality leaflets.

Brochures

We can produce as few or as many brochures as you need. Please contact us for more details.

• Paper Sizes – this section provides a ready reckoner which you can bookmark with paper sizes on for A, B, C, RA paper sizes.
• Printing A-Z (Printing Glossary) – this very comprehensive page gives simple laymans definitions many terms used in the print, pre-press, finishing, paper, design and reprographics industries. From ‘Abrasion Resistance’ to ‘Zahn Cup’ we have tried to cover it all. Please let know if you have any suggestions for additional terms to be added – we know we’ll have missed loads!

Don’t forget, we still have our Pull Up Banner Sale (Banner Stands) Sale on (only £99) – extended now until the end of February 2009. We have also just launched our new Letterheads Sale – 2000 letterheads for £125 delivered. We have also extended our Wallet Folder Sale until the end of Feb.

For more information on printing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

When looking at the folders the first thing you need to consider is which of the three options- knife, buckle and combination will suit your needs?

The buckle folder is the most common choice. It uses a set of guides and plates with a backstop to buckle the paper and create the fold. The document enters through a set of rollers and into a plate where the paper strikes a backstop; it buckles and is forced downward and into a set of nip rollers. The nip rollers grab the sheets at the buckle and pull it through, pressing a fold into the sheet. If several folds are required, then the sheet is sent into another plate and the process is repeated. The fold or buckle location is adjustable allowing for different folds to be created. A knife folder uses a blunt steel blade to push the sheet at the right point to create the fold in the material. Its accuracy makes it ideal for booklet work.

Finally the combination folder- using both buckle and knife technology- is faster and provides close registration. It is suited to large quantities and more complex folding jobs. With the issue of toner cracking on digitally printed work still a key consideration the choice of folders can be more complicated. On the whole, a suction fed system rather than friction fed- usually used for litho printed stock- will offer greater protection to the surface. And creasers have been developed specifically for the digital print.

At some point during the lifecycle of most pieces of print they will go through a guillotine or a trimmer, so getting a high- quality finish is vital. Although often overlooked for investment, this piece of kit, when upgraded, can transform the bindery. This is especially the case now as the demand for automation has increased and the cost of adding features to smaller machines has reduced. The result is more affordable highly-automated kit.

But what should a new guillotine feature? To get the best out of the printed sheet it should have programmatic capability to store jobs and reduce wastages resulting from errors in set-up, ease of use to enable fast changeovers between jobs and variable clamp pressure to hold a variety of stock and enable a clear cut; the latter being important when cutting digital stock.

For more information on printing, trimming, and print finishing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

With the increase in demand for short run, fast turnaround products printers are being required to work faster and smarter. As a result lamination is increasingly being used to protect the final product and give it a high-quality finish. But because sending this out could have ramifications on turnaround times and create unacceptable waiting times, printers started to look at the issues surrounding bringing this service in-house. At the same time, manufacturers were making technology advances that meant easy-to-use and cheaper machines.

A fully automatic laminator should cope with both lithographic and digital output for example and consideration should be given as to how easily a feeder could be added to a hand fed laminator at a later date should the printer’s volumes increase. It should be built for longevity of use and be backed by a comprehensive service organisation.

This is true for B1 and B2 printers and now includes B3 and digital printers, too. Despite increasingly tighter margins, printers are realising the added value a laminator can bring to their businesses. The time and cost associated with outsourcing means that printers are now keen to reap the benefits of providing all their offering under one roof, as a means of creating another profit centre. With modern technology making the lamination process so simple, the need for highly skilled operators has disappeared. Having a laminator in-house means that printers have greater control over the job at hand, there’s faster turnaround and as a result many printers are actually winning new business.

To ensure successful lamination the minimum diameter for a nip roller should be 10 inches so it provides a decent amount of nip pressure, together with a good water heating system.

For more information on printing, Gloss Lamination, Matt Lamination and print finishing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

But the take up has not been such a resounding endorsement as many would have hoped.

“Although it’s the most complex area of any printing operation to change, the finishing sector offers one of the greatest payback opportunities. There is still scope to reduce manning and materials costs, increase productivity and add value to the finished product”

What is JDF?

JDF or Job Definition Format is an XML-based file format for an electronic job ticket. A JDF contains all the job information that might normally be included on a written form sent in with a print job or details supplied by email, phone or fax. The JDF job ticket travels with a file from its inception through prepress, press and post press to provide all the required details at each stage. This ensures proper handling and helps eliminate errors and miscommunication. Information stored can be varied and might include client contact data, fonts and images and additional files, paper size, colour profiles, types of proofs requested, imposition, RIP settings, paper stock, and folding instructions, as well as where to send the completed print job.

A JDF file can be generated and added to at various stages of production when using JDF-enabled products. It is designed to streamline information exchanged between different applications and systems so machines manufactured by different producers can all talk to each other to create seamless workflow solutions.

One of the key attractions is that JDF can bridge the communication gap between production and management information services (MIS). This ability enables up to the minute job and device tracking as well as detailed pre- and post-job calculation.

Before making a move towards networking consider the equipment currently in operation and whether it is networkable. Also weigh up cost- payback ratios, the type and range of products handled and where networking will provide the greatest advantage. Then there are staffing implications and what information and training your operations might need prior to, or during, implementation and other benefits such as customer confidence and remote service.

For more information on printing, jdf and print finishing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

Having automated equipment can transform a time- consuming process into a fast, accurately executed one. Although, the systems offering automation are more expensive and not always suitable (so please consider very carefully before investing) the advantages tend to outweigh this. Touchscreen controls prevent costly errors and store jobs to reduce the amount of time setting up work. This storage, through a process of prompted functions is recorded for repeat orders eliminating the set-up time for the subsequent work. It also enables the flexibility to cope with rushed jobs. Long runs can be easily interrupted and restarted when required. Not only does this increase the amount of jobs that can be completed but it also eases the traditional bottleneck of the operation.

Employees are more readily able to operate a number of pieces of kit ensuring no downtime when someone is off sick. The need for less skilled staff can also be reflected in the wages. These benefits, when added together, can result in huge savings both in costs and time spent on the job. Printers can then better cost their jobs making them more competitive.

Health and safety

Long-term sick is not a phrase an organisation wants to use too often but the reality of the printing factory bindery is that it can be one of the most hazardous places to work in the printing industry. So investing in equipment that provides good health and safety features makes sound economic sense.

Most equipment is fitted with options aimed specifically at this area such as light-guarding for guillotines and air blowers to push paper through. And it is this area where properly planning the flow of work and ancillary equipment like the use of pallet turners, pile hoists and extra tables come into their own.

Consideration should be given to how the work is getting to and from machine, what movements the operator needs to make and how the introduction and exiting of work can be made as smooth as possible.

When you weigh up the cost of a couple of extra features compared to an employee on long term sick there is only one choice isn’t there? And there is the school of thought that a happy more comfortable worker is more productive.

For more information on printing and print finishing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

We are now offering our Standard model Banner Stands at at givaway prices.

• Ideal for exhibitions, point of sale & displays
• 800mm wide x 2000mm tall
• Graphic Rolls away into foot
• Foot folds away for easy storage and transport
• Supplied with Carry Bag
• Tried and tested reliability

If you don’t have your own print ready artwork then our creative team can create a design for you, using your pictures and text, for an additional £50**.

Carriage is an additional £9.95.

www.printbuyingdirect.co.uk is the revolutionary way of ordering printing! We are able to provide print to anywhere in the UK, quickly with minimum fuss. There are no minimum or maximum quantities, so you can have what you want, when you need it. If you can’t see what you want on our website please just ask.

Don’t forget you can upload your print ready artwork to us, or you can use our design templates to create your own with no previous experience.

If you need any help ordering or have an enquiry for printing not shown on our website then please call us on 0870 950 8444

Sincerely,
Peter Harrison
www.printbuyingdirect.co.uk

Online Printing Solutions

Print buying direct is the revolutionary way of ordering printing! Using both conventional printing presses (Litho) and the very latest Xerox digital presses we are able to provide print to anywhere in the UK, quickly with minimum fuss. There are no minimum or maximum quantities for Business Cards, Marketing Postcards, Appointment Cards, Letterheads or colour brochures (we can print pretty much anything you need). So you can have what you want, when you need it.

Print Buying Direct specialise in Business Cards, Postcard Printing, Leaflet Printing, Appointment Card Printing, Letterheads, and more. If you require any items that are not available on this website then please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0870 950 8444.

These are some of our current offers

Business Cards: Now Only £7.50 Per 100

We can produce as little as 100 business cards single or double sided, full colour on a 300 gsm matt or 350 gsm silk board, and despatch them within 2 working days. Try using our business card templates online. We specialise in top quality, cost effective, fast turnaround Business Cards.

Postcards: From just £35 Per 100

Business postcards for marketing. Postcards in full colour on a range of card from 200gsm up to 350gsm matt or silk board, dispatched within 2 working days. Design your business postcards online or let us design them for you.

Appointment Cards: Now Only £7.50 per 100

Premium Appointment Cards for business. Ideal Appointment Cards for many applications such as chiropodists, chiropractors, dental surgeries, doctor and more.

Leaflets: From Just £36 Per 100

Quick leaflet printing, quick delivery and top quality leaflets.

Letterheads : From Only £75 Per 500

We can produce from as little as 500 letterheads, printed full colour, on our premium 100gsm fully laser guaranteed paper. Letterheads can be despatched within 5 working days.

Brochures: From Only £76 per 100

We can produce from as few as 1 Brochure in full colour to as many as 500,000, on a range of paper and board from 100 gsm – 350 gsm matt or gloss board, dispatched within 2 working days. We specialise in top quality, cost effective, fast turnaround Brochures.

*Price is based on print ready artwork being supplied and does not include Post & Packaging or VAT

What they do not realise is that they are missing out in a number of areas, both financially and technically. Let’s tackle the economic first, since they are taking on increasing importance, considering there have been two price rises over the last 12 months and more are expected over the coming year. Indeed, it would not be surprising if the total rise over the period does not reach 40% for some inks.

We cannot blame the ink manufacturers for this. To give them their due, they have been absorbing increasing costs for a number of years, to the extent that these days some companies are barely profitable, demonstrated by the recent round of consolidation in the industry.

When a company is not making money, it makes it difficult to continue research and development, and customer service and support tends to suffer, neither of which is good news for the printing industry.

As a result of all this, when the recent significant rises in the price of raw materials occurred, especially for crude oil related materials, ink makers had no option but to pass them on to their customers. Nor is the situation being helped by raw material shortages, particularly of certain pigments, especially following the environmental restrictions which have been imposed on manufacturers by the government in China, which produces significant quantities of pigments, and was started in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Although the ink industry in recent years has significantly reduced it’s operating costs by becoming more efficient, especially through the use of ‘mother plant’ manufacturing, there is no doubt that it is having a hard time. The same is true of the printing industry.

Unfortunately, when this happens, printers tend to go for the cheapest inks possible but they are cutting off their nose to spite their face. To realise this, all they have to do is calculate how much they’ll lose on a job if the ink is not up to scratch.

For example, how much does it cost you per hour to have a press idle while waiting for the ink maker’s technical service people to come along to work out what has gone wrong? Or, how much does it cost to wash down your press and set it up with another ink? Or, what will it cost to have a job refused by a customer due to poor printing?

When you consider that ink represents a very small percentage of the total production cost of a print job, is it really worth penny pinching? More often than not, you will find that any savings made from buying cheapest ink will be more than wiped out by a cost of solving the inevitable problems, even if there is only one occurrence.

This doesn’t not mean though that there is nothing you can do to reduce your ink bills. One way could be to buy all your pressroom consumables including ink from one supplier, something which is increasingly on offer in the industry. In this way, not only might you obtain a better deal and reduce the invoicing but using inks and pressroom consumables which have been developed to work together should reduce the chance of problems occurring. It should also mean that when an ink manufacturer ‘improves’ an ink by changing an ingredient, it does not cause on-press problems.

The second way to reduce ink costs is through good housekeeping. These days, ink makers spend a considerable amount of time and money making sure that the ink arrives at you plant in the best possible condition. If you ensure that it stays that way, the ink will not only run better but it could go further.

Automatic bulk container ink pumping systems can also reduce ink consumption. For one thing, ink spillage is eliminated and for another there is much less ink residue left in the containers compared with using tins. If your operation does not justify such a system, than there ink cartridge systems available which offer similar benefits. They can be cost justified even for sheet-fed printing operations with low ink consumption, especially when frequent colour changes are involved.

Adding Value

Not surprisingly, specialist inks tend to be more expensive than the conventional four process colours but then they offer a greater return on investment. Take, for example, sensory inks and varnishes which can meet designers’ and advertisers’ increasing demands for all round stimulation.

Until recently, these have tended only to be used by ‘specialist’ printers, particularly those in the packaging industry, where brand owners and designers are continually looking for ways to make their packaging more appealing to the consumer’s senses, as well as give a feeling value.

However, as the market becomes increasingly competitive, not just in packaging but in all other industries, such inks are being used by a much wider sector of printers especially as their handling has become that much easier. One example is using scratch and sniff inks in publications, not just magazines but also newspaper.

Technical developments

Overall, technically, ink developments tend to be more evolutionary rather than revolutionary. For instance, as the printing presses, both sheet-fed and web, become ever faster so new inks have been developed by all the major manufacturers to handle the higher speeds.

For more information on image processing or printing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)

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