Based in Wilmslow, UK, The Wheatsheaf Press has turned to ECRM to fulfil its CTP requirements with the MAKO 2 CTP device. Founded in 1983, the commercial print company understands how important the bottom-line is and constantly strives to provide the best level of service possible to customers. Mike Allen, Managing Director at Wheatsheaf, comments, "Our customers are increasingly looking to us to provide faster turnarounds on their print jobs. Our existing film-based equipment just couldn’t operate at the speeds that we required, so we started to look at the other options available." In fact, the company spent several months investigating and researching potential products. Mike adds, "We spoke to other printing firms and visited a site where the MAKO 2 was in use. One of the things that struck me about the MAKO 2 operators we spoke to, was how happy they were with the system, a feeling that’s now mutual." However, reducing turnaround time was not the only motive behind the purchase. Mike continues, "It was important for us to bring file origination in-house. We needed more control over the entire reprographic process. Combined with this, we wanted to eliminate the overheads associated with film. Looking back it was increasingly uneconomical using film, particularly as we can still store the plates for re-prints when needed. "We needed a platesetter with the flexibility to enable us to image four different plate sizes. The MAKO 2 allows this, but everything about the product has impressed us. It’s dealt with everything that we’ve thrown at it without any problems." Mike concludes, "The speed and ease of use is excellent, and as well as allowing us to reduce our labor costs, we’ve found that our make-ready time on press has been halved. Everything about the install ran smoothly, we even have the flexibility to change to photopolymer plates at a later date with an onsite laser adjustment." The MAKO 2 CTP is the world’s most cost-effective entry-level platesetter, provides a simple stepping stone into CTP production for press formats up to 560 mm x 670 mm. Compatible with the smallest press as well as many four page formats, the MAKO 2 is the ideal first step into violet CTP production. The move to CTP with the MAKO 2 is just one step forward that Wheatsheaf has taken. With a five-color press on the shopping list and finishing equipment recently installed, the firm looks set to reap the benefits of its investment policy.