Kennesaw, Ga. – Ryan Printing’s new 5-color Speedmaster CX 102 with Inpress Control, aqueous coater, and extended delivery is the gift that keeps on giving. 

Installed one year ago, the new press, whose arrival marked the company’s transition from half- to full-size shop, “is just eating up the work,” said company president Al Ryan. “I don’t know how we got along with a 29” press and small-format equipment alone. It seems impossible now that we did.”

Bring It On

The company handles bookwork, large posters, and some packaging components including boxes, bottleneckers and window signage—none of it beyond the capability of the Speedmaster CX 102. “Not only have we attracted more work from existing customers, but we also have attracted a number of new customers, based on word-of-mouth about the new press,” Ryan said. “The CX 102 can do both half- and full-size work on paper stocks from onion skin to cardboard for an endless variety of applications. We can lay down different finishes. All of that flexibility means we are bringing in everything.”

Before the installation, Ryan had been planning to add a second shift to accommodate rising volume; one year later, he freely admits that the CX 102’s shorter makereadies (<10 minutes) and consistently high production speeds (16,500 sph), have precluded the need for an additional shift.

“Blown Away”

On the quality side, Prinect Inpress Control’s inline closed-loop color management system drives down makeready times to less than 10 minutes, and enables the CX 102 to come up to precise, LAB matching color while cutting hundreds of waste sheets with each makeready. “We’re still blown away by the accuracy of it,” Ryan said, “and our makereadies are fast.” With typical run lengths in the 1,000-2,000-sheet range, he added, “the CX 102 is so fast and so efficient, it functions almost like an on-demand machine for us.”

Prior to installation of the new press, Ryan Printing completed capacity improvements in its prepress department and bindery to be ready to handle the output from the Speedmaster CX 102. Among these is a pair of POLAR cutting systems set up to enable the company to cut larger printed sheets, and a trio of Stahlfolders (TH 82, TH 56 and B20) able to accommodate larger signatures.

In prepress, a Suprasetter 106 thermal platesetter with dual cassette loader has introduced a high degree of automation into Ryan’s CtP workflow, together with improved productivity, reduced space requirements, and minimal impact on the environment. The company’s use of Saphira Eco Thermal Chemfree Plates increases process stability and also shrinks Ryan’s environmental footprint.

“Automation in CtP has made a huge difference in our productivity,” Ryan said.

Founded in 1992, Ryan Printing serves a local and regional clientele producing brochures, newsletters, slipcovers, postcards, catalogs, stationery and direct mail pieces. Services include offset, digital, and wide-format printing, and fulfillment. Markets range from financial to fashion and real estate. The shop, which employs a lean workforce of 25, was ranked the number one commercial printer-manufacturer by Inc. Magazine on its 2012 and 2013 list of America's 5000 fastest growing companies.