Northend installed a new Duplo DC-646 slitter cutter creaser and PFI Blade B2+ cutter, reporting record volumes in February following the purchase
Sheffield-based full-service print house, Northend, has installed a new Duplo DC-646 slitter cutter creaser and a Duplo PFI Blade B2+ digital cutter in order to increase automation, remove finishing bottlenecks, and bring more high value work in house.
According to the company, Northend saw its strongest February in the company’s 137 year history following the installation of the Duplo solutions.
Founded in 1889 and employing 45 people, Northend’s litho print capability centres on a Ryobi RMGT five colour LED UV press, supported by a Canon imagePRESS C10010VP for digital production.
As for wide-format solutions, a Canon Colorado 1650 and Epson SC-S80600 enable the business to serve retail, education, public sector, and commercial clients with a range of applications.
Ian McCloskey, sales director at Northend, says: “We have invested heavily across litho, digital, and wide-format to deliver quality and versatility.
“However, as volumes increased and work became more complex, we could see finishing had to evolve at the same rate. Run lengths are shorter, expectations are higher, and more jobs require bespoke elements. We did not want finishing to become the constraint in our workflow.”
The installation of the DC-646 aimed to address those needs, with the finishing solution able to automate slitting, cutting, creasing, and perforating in a single pass in order to reduce setup times and remove multiple manual processes.
McCloskey adds: “The impact was instant – the DC-646 gave us speed and consistency straight away.
“We can move between jobs with minimal setup and complete confidence in the output. That reliability meant we could schedule more work during what became a record month. The efficiencies we’re achieving are primarily due to faster set-ups and smoother running overall.”
Alongside it, the PFI Blade B2+ introduced high-speed programmable cutting capabilities and the ability to produce intricate shapes in house, thereby enabling quicker job changes and improved operational flow.
The DC-646, which replaces an older model, is being utilised for growing demand from Northend customers for premium pieces and custom shapes. According to McCloskey, the additional capability it allowed directly contributed to the company’s record volumes in February.
Simon Kingham, regional sales manager at Duplo UK, concludes: “Northend’s investment shows how forward-thinking print businesses respond to growth. The combination of the DC-646 and the PFI Blade B2+ delivers automation and creative flexibility. It increases throughput without increasing pressure on staff and future proofs the finishing department.”
