INDUSTRY NEWS
DuoTone Perfection Installs Xerox 3100 Colour Production Press
DuoTone Perfection recently installed a Xerox
3100 colour production press. The Versant 3100
features Ultra-HD Resolution, which combines
2400 x 2400dpi printing with 10-bit RIP rendering to
achieve high-quality prints and sharp vivid colours
from the four-colours. This provides output with
four times more pixels on the sheet resulting in
sharper halftones, smoother gradations and crisper
resolution.
The company was founded by Shaun Schutte and
wife Kathy in 1994 as a repro house. Changes
within the industry saw the addition of computer-
to-plate, and the company shifted focus to
providing a full prepress service to larger printers.
With this change, many of the jobs that existed at
the turn of the century were no longer relevant, and
gradually short-run digital printing was introduced
in 2012.
The skills and knowledge that Shaun had acquired
as a photolithographer and colour separations
specialist and Kathy as a DTP operator and proof
reader, have stood them in good stead in the
industry, paving the way for the company’s success
in the modern digital printing arena over the past
23 years.
Shaun Schutte commented, ‘The introduction of
digital printing was a very successful move for us,
but with time we realised that the technology we
bought back then was no longer able to offer the
quality our customers needed. We needed a digital
press that was capable of the highest quality colour
with even toner distribution across the entire sheet,
and without any trace of banding. We needed the
best for our customers, as they themselves are also
printers who insist on the highest possible quality
for their customers.’
Following an evaluation of the solutions available
on the market, Schutte opted for the Xerox Versant
3100 from Bytes Document Solutions and its
channel partner XBC-IT. For him, the most important
features of the Xerox Versant 3100 Press were its
Shaun Schutte, DuoTone Perfection and James Carruthers, XBC-IT.
ability to produce consistent quality across the full
sheet width, as well as from sheet to sheet without
banding or colour variance.
The Versant 3100 achieves consistent quality
through its Full Width Array inline scanning
assembly and Automated Colour Quality Suite.
Working together, they safeguard colour
consistency throughout the run. These solutions
also automate time-consuming tasks including
calibrating the press, image-to-media alignment,
front-to-back registration, density uniformity, colour
management and profi ling.
The Versant 3100 is capable of printing onto a
wide range of stocks ranging in weight from 52 to
350gsm. Stock is managed via the Stock Library,
which allows for extremely fast changes from
one stock to another or management of the print
consistency in mixed stock print runs. It can handle
a wide range of sheet sizes from 98 x 146mm up to
330,2 x 488mm for standard sizes and 330,2mm x
660,4mm for banner prints. The Versant is capable
of printing at full production speed of 100 sheets
per minute even on the heaviest substrates.
The press can be confi gured with a wide array of
fi nishing options, allowing for fi nished products to
be produced.
Schutte commented, ‘The Versant 3100 fi ts in
perfectly with the other solutions we have in
production and ties in with our company philosophy
of 100 percent in and 100 percent out, meaning
that we ensure products of the highest quality.’
James Carruthers of XBC-IT added, ‘Meeting the
exacting demands of a dedicated trade printer
meant that DuoTone Perfection needed a solution
capable of the highest quality from a supplier
dedicated to meeting the needs of its clients and
ensuring exceptional service. The Versant 3100
from Xerox meets all those criteria. We are proud
to have Shaun, Kathy and the team join the Xerox
family.’
www.bytesdocumentsolutions.co.za
Thunderbolt Solutions Appoints New Regional Manager: Western Cape
Gavin van Rensburg was recently appointed
regional manager: Western Cape at the Cape Town
branch of Thunderbolt Solutions.
Van Rensburg is responsible for Thunderbolt’s
business in the region. ‘My brief is to ensure that
solid sustainable growth is achieved. We will focus
on sales and support, namely that of paper, plate,
press room, blankets and fi nishing equipment,' he
said.
‘We have leading brands in our stable, which
require comprehensive representation at all
levels. Thunderbolt is an empowered and focused
company that is dedicated to the printing industry.
www.AfricaPrint.com
We are level 2 BBBEE accredited. The many years
of experience and solid relationships with both our
customers and suppliers is what sets us apart from
our competitors.’
Van Rensburg has a history spanning some
40 years in the printing industry. This includes
joining Kemtek Imaging Solutions in 1998 as
national prepress sales manager. By 2001, he
was appointed a director and board member at
the company and was eventually appointed group
managing director in 2013.
AFRICA PRINT JOURNAL
www.thunderbolt.co.za
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
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