"Azura has given us a trouble free run now for over 7 years", Simon Carmody, Managing Director
Spot Productions (Brisbane, Australia) service many local and international clients encompassing many applications including offset digital and wide-format printing. They have been using Azura plates since 2008 and wouldn't do without.
"We changed to Agfa plates early when we moved to our new location in 2008", says Managing Director Simon Carmody. "Waste was a real issue for us and therefore chemical plates were a disadvantage. We had a Magnus 400 but the other supplier was just too difficult to deal with. We wanted things simple and easy in our pre-press area. We installed an Agfa C95 gumming unit and away we went with Azura. Of all the problems a printing business has, printing plates should not be one of them, and Azura has given us a trouble free run now for over 7 years."
Exceptional stability
He continues: "Press time is money time and when you can eliminate press downtime productivity gains will maximize profits. Azura's run lengths and press stability are exceptional and suit our application perfectly. Also, the local Agfa staff are always on call whenever we require them for service or advice, and they never run out of stock."
In 2013, Spot Productions invested in an Avalon platesetter. "We were so happy with Agfa Graphics, that it was a fairly easy decision to upgrade from Magnus to the new Avalon, when we went to an A1 format. Another supplier offered a very competitive deal to change, but we decided to stick with Agfa Graphics due to our excellent ongoing partnership, and the quality and productivity benefits we were gaining from the Azura plates. We still see Azura as the plate with the technical edge over other DOP type plates, which the two major competitor companies offer."
Azura's run lengths and press stability are exceptional
2002: Spot Productions start out as "green grass" site that grew out of the experience and market expertise of the two principals Peter and son Simon Carmody.
2008: The family business moves to its current site. Initially, the company had one two-colour Heidelberg press, but it progressively expanded from taking up one large unit in an industrial complex to five, with three large Ryobi multicolour presses, ranging up to A1, and with digital and bindery sections.
Today: Spot Productions employ 59 people.
Clients: Spot Productions service many local and international clients encompassing many applications including offset digital and wide-format printing. The business is divided between direct clients (60%), advertising agents and design (35%) and others (5%). Spot Productions also offer print management and print and pack warehousing for larger customers.
Agfa Graphics technology: Spot Productions use about 12,000 sq metres of Azura plate through an Avalon N8-20 with a C95 clean-out unit and stacker.
Convenience and savings
"The convenience of low maintenance that the Azura plate offers us is a far superior solution to our previous chemical plate," says Carmody. "There are significant water, chemical waste disposal, and maintenance time savings, at every point. It takes our operators only minutes to do a small maintenance on the C95 and about an hour every now and again, to keep the system absolutely in top working order. Sometimes the operators, due to production pressures, leave the weekly maintenance and carry on anyway. Even under these conditions, which we know are not recommended, the Azura plate still produces a good plate."
Excellent quality
"Azura cleans and rolls up immediately on press and dot loss is minimal even in longer runs with abrasive stocks. Chemical resistance is good, with all our blanket washes being no problems. We use the recommended Agfa plate cleaners when this is occasionally necessary, but oxidation is a rarity. Fountain solutions are also easy as we use a number of these on all presses and the Azura plate works well with all."
We would estimate that maintenance has been reduced by 90% over our previous chemical system.
"The image produced on the Azura plates looks strong and consistent, giving our printers confidence that the plate is durable and resilient. The plates can be left beside the presses for hours, in full light, with no visible image discoloration. The printers are very happy with them."