Geoff Neal Group

Award-winning UK printer Geoff Neal Group takes great pride in the impeccable promotional work they produce for top global brands. To meet their customers' discerning standards and stay profitable in a rapidly changing print industry, they need to keep processes tight and productivity high. Partnering with Kodak on smart automation technologies is setting them up for ongoing success.

Over more than 45 years in the industry, family-run Geoff Neal Group has evolved into a full-service design and print consultancy with offset and digital production. They are located on the outskirts of London but their customers span well-known global brands, and they've won numerous awards for their promotional work, from high-end mail pieces to art and auction catalogs. With business trending toward more jobs with shorter runs and tighter deadlines, Geoff Neal knew they needed to speed up production and keep presses running with minimal downtime—and they recognized that automation was the answer. They began in 2019 by adding an automated JDF workflow and new high-speed finishing equipment, but they still needed help with their platemaking operation. It was inefficiently spread out and had numerous manual touchpoints that sometimes caused plate scratching. Space was limited at their Feltham site, so a smart solution had to maximize what was available. Looking to invest in major changes, Geoff Neal chose Kodak as a partner for not only equipment but also innovative technology and insightful thinking.

Working with Kodak and other vendors, Geoff Neal rigorously assessed their existing layout. Having the plate room and press hall on separate floors increased labor and plate damage risks, so they relocated platemaking to a space adjacent to their high-speed B1 presses. With the goal of fully automated plate production, Geoff Neal became the first UK print business to install the powerful KODAK MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter, equipped with Kodak's 1,200-plate-capacity Multi-Pallet Loader for automatic plate loading, and connected to the KODAK Mobile CTP Control App for remote job monitoring and management. After imaging, plates are conveyed automatically to a new NELA bending and transport system, and only then does staff get hands-on to take them to the presses. The new MAGNUS Platesetter features KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology to deliver consistent imaging even under varying conditions, and the printer relies on KODAK ELECTRA XD Thermal Plates for excellent quality plus stability through all the automated steps.

As the industry's fastest 8-page CTP, the MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter images up to 70 plates per hour at Geoff Neal Group—more than doubling their previous CTP's speed. Once imaging is launched, the entire platemaking process is completely automated and virtually unmanned—although Kodak's mobile app makes it easy to keep an eye on progress and manage jobs from any mobile device. They no longer experience platemaking bottlenecks, so their presses can run more continuously. The MAGNUS Platesetter's modular design gives the company options to upgrade over time, and their vibrant new platemaking space showcases their forward-looking approach to customers. In partnership with Kodak, Geoff Neal anticipates ongoing innovation and exceptional-quality work for the long haul.