Page 21 - Print21 March-April 2022

Print Production
“For us, separating digital and offset became an out-dated business model.”
Central to the transformation was CMYKhub’s investment in Australia’s first HP Indigo 100K B2 digital press. At the time it was quite a risk as the technology was still unproven, its public launch event cancelled along with drupa. The plan was for CMYKhub, which has long been one of Australia’s largest HP Indigo users, to replace two HP Indigo Series 4 10000 presses with the two giant production platforms, one each in Victoria and New South Wales. One year on from the installation
in Melbourne the decision appears to have paid off. Installation is now underway to replicate the Melbourne configuration at its Sydney site.
In the year since Currie Group installed the first HP Indigo 100K, the press has proven its worth. Backed up by CMYKhub’s existing Komori HD 8-colour A1 offset press (soon to be joined by
another that came from the defunct Whirlwind), the B2 digital press has demonstrated its appetite for work. Running two eight-hour shifts, five days a week, Nankervis claims it can plough through 160,000 impressions a day, sometimes significantly more.
“Now we can do 4000 A4 sheets in half an hour. The HP Indigo 100K is giving us four times the productivity of the old Series 4 machines. The uptime is greatly improved with
far less maintenance. It’s all about productivity. The faster we get jobs out the faster we can take in others.”
With its national footprint, CMYKhub’s strategy is to create back up and redundancy for its customers in different states. The aim is to ensure customers are shielded from any disruption.
“Customers want consistency and fast resolution. They want a set turn around time. They want reliability,” said Nankervis.
In addition to the digital offset presses, the company has also invested in extra finishing and laminating technology. There are now three digital laminating machines in Melbourne: MGI, Autobond and a Scodix.
He sees the recent increases in the price of paper and the general near- term supply chain risk as, “not ideal for the industry” but is confident CMYKhub can support its customers through this with its buying capacity and security of supply. “Good supply chain partners will be important for everyone's future,” he said.
Textbook
The installation of the first CMYKhub press last year was a textbook success, according to Marcus Robinson, operations manager, of Currie Group. “Normally it would take us ten days to install a Series 4 HP Indigo press, but this time we had the Series 5 press up and operational within three days. In my 20 years of being involved with Currie Group’ service organisation, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“One year on from installation, the operational data shows the 100K is a beast. Comparing data to the series
4 platform, there is a 50 per cent reduction in service intervention, with 60 per cent less spare parts consumption and double the amount of uptime and availability. With CMYKhub putting through big
print volumes, the 100K is proving to be a truly reliable machine,” he said. “It’s very stable and while the build technology is much better, it’s important also to say that CMYKhub has a great team of operators and managers.”
“Currie Group’s service team performed a flawless installation.
It was right in the middle of Melbourne’s Covid lockdown so flying in technical support from overseas was not an option. Our local team, with the help of remote support from HP Indigo Israel, really knocked this install out of the park. It was textbook, and coupled with CMYKhub’s talented operators has made for a successful 12 months.”
Robinson is careful to mention the good relationship between Currie Group & CMYKhub, in particular the one he and his father, Bernie Robinson, managing director Currie Group, enjoy with the Nankervis family. “We have known one another for many years, and are able to have in-depth conversations. It helps to make sure everyone has the right expectations.” 21
Print21 MARCH/APRIL2022 21