FFEI Ltd, the global developer of award-winning digital imaging solutions, today announces that Africa Stereos – a flexographic repro house supplying printing plates for label and packaging applications – has significantly reduced its turnaround time and improved job accuracy since introducing RealPro Toolkit into its prepress cycle. 

According to Nic Gray, Africa Stereos Branch Manager, the company moved towards FFEI’s innovative software to help tackle a series of pre-press production issues that were affecting time, productivity and accuracy:

“The results have been wonderful – we recently used the software for a five colour fertilizer bag job where previously it would have taken us two or more hours to get everything right before creating the plates. With RealPro Toolkit it’s a matter of minutes and clients have been very happy – it’s just so time-effective and a winner for the business all round,” says Gray.

RealPro Toolkit, launched at Packaging Innovations 2013 and in South Africa at Propak 2013, is a new feature-rich software suite of tools designed to overcome the challenges of a labelling & packaging pre-press cycle. Consisting of over 12 modules, the software addresses specific pre-press workflow requirements such as file editing and preparation, colour management, trapping and step and repeat tasks.

Having seen RealPro Toolkit in action at the Propak exhibition, Africa Stereos was able to trial the software for free, for a full month through FFEI’s South African distribution partner, DigitalView. It was based on this trial that they decided to purchase the full license. 

“The software is very good value for money and not only is it extremely user friendly and easy-to-use, the features are of a very high quality,” adds Gray. “Our DTP department said that the trapping editor was the best they had ever seen! In addition, it has been great having all the inspection and pre-flight tools that help us find potential problems right at the proofing stage.”

Based in South Africa, the company has over 17 years’ experience in the graphic arts industry, offering clients a fully comprehensive flexographic service; supplying printing plates for label converting, continuous and flexible printing, as well as corrugated packaging.

“In an ever-changing and highly demanding industry, Africa Stereos is committed to keeping pace with advances in technology and challenging the limits of our current thought and concepts. We strive to provide the best possible service and quality products to all our clients,” concludes Gray.

Laura Minter, Director of FFEI South Africa distributor, DigitalView, adds, “We are proud to be able to offer FFEI products into the South African market. Africa Stereos is our first RealPro toolkit customer – it has been great working with them on this project to see first-hand how the software helps to streamline production.”