New six-color Komori Lithrone Press Results in Production Time Cut in Half

Rolling Meadows, IL - Komori America Corporation, a premier manufacturer of printing presses, today announced that Alexander Clark Printing Company, a full-service commercial printer located in Boise, Idaho, recently installed its second Komori press. To increase efficiency and accommodate demand for more high quality color applications and faster turnaround times, Alexander Clark Printing chose the 29-inch six-color Komori Lithrone SX29 (LSX629). Alexander Clark Printing, an employee-owned company, serves a variety of industries, from international manufacturers to advertising agencies, and produces a wide gamut of commercial applications, including saddle-stitched booklets and catalogs, posters, brochures, postcards and presentation folders. With the advanced automated features of the LSX629, Alexander Clark Printing has seen leaps in efficiency, cutting production time by more than half.

“The upgraded computer interface on the LSX629 is phenomenal,” said Mike Ayers, president and CEO of Alexander Clark Printing. “Our makeready is quicker with the computer interface taking our CIP data from prepress. And the LSX629 has fully automated makeready, including plate hanging and registration. Another big benefit is running speeds. In the past we would run at 9,000 sheets an hour. We’re running at 16,000 sheets an hour now. Faster run speeds means less time on-press, and with today’s shorter delivery times, that is a benefit we’re able to pass on to the customer. We can also print more jobs in an eight hour shift, and we’ve been running two shifts since the press was installed. Print quality is a huge factor in a customer’s decision to buy from us—our five-color Komori printed well, but the quality of printing on this new press is exceptional.” 

Founded in 1972 as a business forms manufacturer, Alexander Clark Printing began moving into the commercial printing segment in 1998 with the installation of a Sanden eight-color UV web press. In 2006, the company added a five-color 28-inch Komori press to compliment its production offerings. Ever increasing commercial work led the company to recently upgrade its press, trading in the five-color Komori for the LSX629. The larger sheet format improves efficiency by reducing the number of plates required for multi-page jobs like catalogs, as well as decreasing on-press run time. Today, the company has the largest volume commercial plant in Idaho.

“We are thrilled that the LSX629 is helping Alexander Clark Printing exceed the needs of its customers while also achieving great advances in efficiency for the company,” said Jacki Hudmon, senior vice-president of sales and marketing of Komori America. “We have enjoyed being a part of Alexander Clark Printing’s ongoing success and look forward to continuing our support of its business.”