The end of the last century witnessed a new force entering the New Zealand prepress supply industry. Conceived as a uniquely Kiwi answer to rapidly changing technologies in digital prepress, Frontline Technologies is now amongst the largest of the hi-tech vendors supporting businesses across all segments of the New Zealand printing industry
Craig Paul, founder and general manager of Frontline, possessed a clear vision for the industry. He says, “I had witnessed the down-sizing of many of the vendors in New Zealand. It was obvious to me that New Zealand printers wanted security of support and clear advice that could only be provided by a New Zealand owned organisation. We represent the best, give unbiased advice, and live by the success of our New Zealand customers”.Frontline Technologies recently occupied expanded premises in Auckland’s western suburbs. From these modern facilities, the company now supports some 65 CTP systems. This includes all of New Zealand’s heatset printers, all of New Zealand’s digital flexo imagers, plus the country’s largest CTP imager capable of imaging 2.5 x 2 meters.
A nationwide network of seven field engineers operates from bases in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, supervised by an Auckland based service manager. Paul adds, “We have the largest prepress service team in the country and the only one offering nationwide support, using our own staff and not third party contractors. CTP systems are mission critical and customers usually only have one, so we need to respond with trained staff as quickly as possible”.
70 Frontline customers
Workflow and proofing systems, of course, go hand in hand with CTP, and no fewer than 70 print customers use Frontline proofing systems. More than simply an inkjet output printer, Frontline proofing systems provide the colour controls and stability demanded by the printing industry.
“We understand colour and together with our skilled support, we have many happy customers. No proofing would be complete without the full range of stocks,” says Paul. “We also offer a full and ongoing ISO print colour calibration service, enabling our customers to produce the highest quality of work.
“We’re not stopping at proofing. A recently launched press optimisation and fingerprinting service has also proved popular, particularly in the A1 market. The savings and efficiencies that these technologies generate easily provide rapid payback of the investment.”
Substantial savings
Frontline ink optimisation software from GMG uses a special process to change the way colour is generated in the PDF’s. Paul says that rather than alter the look of the colour, it results in less ink being used on press and generally gives a better result. With a growing number of customer sites here in New Zealand, the company has seen savings as high as 25 percent.
Partnering Kodak
Frontline Technologies recently became the exclusive New Zealand dealer for Kodak’s prepress systems, adding to the Kodak Nexpress offerings it obtained through sister company Aarque Graphics. As a result, the Frontline team now includes well known ex Kodak personnel Allan Kennedy, and Justine Dunne in Auckland; Phillip Tanuvasa in Wellington; and Richard Clements, and David Bryant in Christchurch. In the new organisation, Kennedy assumes the role of service manager, bringing his 20-plus years of experience in support to the frontline team. In total, the new staff adds more than 100 years of combined experience, providing a formidable line up of intellectual capital resident at Frontline offices nationwide.
This also brings Kodak Prinergy to the Frontline stable of products. The world’s most widely used workflow system; Prinergy was the first native PDF system and the first to offer integrated workflow for both offset and digital processes. Paul says, “We view workflow as one of the key factors in making a printing business successful. The Prinergy dual capability in offset and digital processes, plus the continuing leadership of the product, fits perfectly with our strategy of bringing the worlds best to our New Zealand customers”.
Flexo consumables
The consumable line up includes DuPont Cyrel and Toyobo flexible plates offering water washout products for both flexo and letterpress operations. Paul says, “As the only vendor supporting digital flexo imagers and offering consumables, the Frontline experience in this area cannot be surpassed.”
Offset consumables
“Kodak Thermal Direct Plates are a winner,” he continues. “Kodak is also known for its complete range of CTP plates for both violet and thermal imagers. Of considerable note is the success that we have had in the New Zealand market with Kodak’s Thermal Direct plate. This requires no chemical processor to develop the plate. When first introduced the market was quite sceptical but with 11 sites now using the technology, it’s proved a winner.”
Local
Both Craig Paul and partner Craig Gemmel are upbeat about the future. Paul says, “We are independent of any corporate product philosophy. Decisions about what is best in products, in support and in personnel are made here, not in some foreign office. We live by and exist on the success of our products and the success of the New Zealand printing industry. We believe that our customers value independence of view and it is something we value ourselves.
“Nowhere will that independence be more important than at PacPrint in Australia later this year. Frontline Technologies staff will be there, literally in the frontline, assessing technologies, assisting New Zealand customers and demonstrating the value of an independent dealer.”
