Herbert Walker, a privately owned commercial printer based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, recently switched to using Fujifilm’s Brillia HD LH-PJE plates alongside Fujifilm’s FOUNTMAX 30.30 fount and three different washes from the WASHMAX range across its diverse range of presses.

The plate switch has enabled the company to eliminate problems it had previously experienced with plate consistency and quality, while the PRESSMAX solutions have dramatically reduced the alcohol levels used on presses.

When Herbert Walker's existing plate contract was drawing to an end, the company chose to test Fujifilm's Brillia HD LH-PJE plates, as well as PRESSMAX founts and washes to see if better results could be attained. Mark Vanston, operations director at Herbert Walker, explains: "The robust quality we were able to achieve with Fujifilm's products, especially on our quality-critical stochastic production line, was immediately apparent and we didn't hesitate to make the switch to the PJE plate.

"Now, we have reduced the number of plates we need to remake by a third, which means the productivity on our production line has greatly improved," he says. "Also, PRESSMAX has proved to be very reliable across our wide spectrum of presses and enables us to keep chemistry usage consistent. The decrease in alcohol levels we see with the PRESSMAX chemistry is also a big ‘plus' for us."

The Brillia HD LH-PJE plate is a long-run, positive working thermal CTP plate that does not require pre-heating or post-baking, and is suitable for UV printing without baking. The plate also has enhanced handling characteristics minimising plate spoilage.

Fujifilm's PRESSMAX pressroom chemistry and press care products have been designed specifically with environmental benefits in mind, while still reducing costs and improving press performance, efficiency and print quality.

Mark concludes: "Fujifilm has proved that its products are reliable and of a very high standard, and I wouldn't hesitate to do further business with the company in the future. "