"Heidelberg certification is a quality mark and a key differentiator. It confirms that we are among the elite suppliers of colour print in Scotland," says Trevor Price, managing director of 21 Colour in Glasgow.
And Elite is what it becomes within the Heidelberg Colour Club, the status given to those who renew their ISO 12647-2 certification. This is done on a biennial basis.
The company handles work for a number of luxury sectors including hotels, drinks and clothing. Some require monthly test sheets to confirm that the colour is benchmarked. But the Heidelberg certification enables it to reach a wider market, giving them confidence in the fact that 21 Colour has been through a rigorous testing procedure to confirm that the processes it uses and the print it is outputting is to the highest standard.
"Colour is part of our operational life so it took relatively little time and minimal disruption to implement the programme and create the test formes to be sent to Germany," says Mr Price.
"For the management team who has steered this – prepress manager Graham Watt and production director John McManus – achieving this certification and being able to renew it is a real buzz. It confirms that we monitor, measure, get the prepress and plate-making right time after time and that all the dots join up on the press. This is a great litho standard and we would love there to be one for digital as well."
The company promotes its ISO 12647-2 certification in tenders, for instance in pitching for work for Public Sector Framework Agreement buyers. 21 Colour operates two B2 Speedmaster presses, a Speedmaster XL 75-10-P with Inpress Control installed three years ago and a SM 74-6.
Mark Barrett, colour specialist at Heidelberg, says: "Heidelberg ISO 12647-2 certification provides irrefutable evidence of a printing company's ability to meet the demands of the standard. It is a key selling tool, putting companies in pole position for high quality contracts. When companies like 21 Colour return to renew you know that it is a valued service that offers a real business advantage."
