Garnett Dickinson Unveils New Image and Update on Plant Progress

Garnett Dickinson gathered a host of key customers to a London-based lunch on Friday October 14th in order to update them with the latest news on its new 11,000 square metre Rotherham plant.

Following an introduction from Chairman John Dickinson, Group Commercial Director Nick Alexander provided an overview of the current web market, details of the equipment being installed, and introduced the new Garnett Dickinson company branding.

In the magazine sector, the company sees its main source of business as being in the 5,000 to 80,000 run-length. Alexander suggested that larger runs than this invited competition from across Europe, which forced down prices. Runs of around 80,000 or less were not economical to ship, so would continue to be printed within the UK. The company is also active within the catalogue and brochure printing markets.

Gearing the plant to this shorter run arena has meant the inclusion of many “whistles and bells” on the new four-unit 48-page Lithoman IV from MAN Roland. Fast make-ready is the key to the profitability of such work, and the press has been specified with this in mind, including, for example, a closed-loop colour system and MAN Roland’s QuickStart technology. Delivery of the four-unit press to the Rotherham site is imminent, with floor preparations now complete.

Lithoman IV prints at a maximum speed of 45,000 revolutions per hour on a web width of 1,460mm, and the Garnett Dickinson machine will include rotary trimming and spine gluing capabilities.

Alexander also revealed that Digitec, the company’s digital print operation, would be re-branded with the name Garnett Dickinson Digital to bring it into “the family”.

The lunchtime event was sponsored by the three main suppliers involved in equipping the new facility – Agfa, Gammerler and MAN Roland.

Visitors to the www.garnett-dickinson.co.uk web site will see the visual effect of the new company branding with immediate effect.