Golden Business Forms Chooses Kodak for Increased Productivity

Golden Business Forms, a state-of-the-art business forms printer based in Golden City, Missouri, has invested in a KODAK TRENDSETTER Q400 SA Platesetter and KODAK SONORA Process Free Plates in a move that will see the company switch to process free platemaking.

Established in 1963, Golden Business Forms operates from a 70,000 square foot facility where it produces ATM rolls and fanfold receipts, continuous and cut sheet forms, and thermochecks. Selling exclusively to independent distributors, print brokers and agencies, the company relies on having the latest offset presses, roll conversion and platemaking technology to get every job done right the first time and shipped on schedule.

Going Process Free Increases Prepress Productivity and Maintains Quality

Golden Business Forms replaced its 15-year-old ECRM Mako 800 CTP system with a KODAK TRENDSETTER Q400 Platesetter and switched to SONORA Process Free Plates. Producing 30 plates per hour—twice the previous throughput—the process-free solution streamlines prepress by eliminating chemicals, plate processing and related inventory tasks.

Speaking only a week after the installation was completed, David Hieber, Prepress Lead at Golden Business Forms, commented: “You had me at ‘process-free’, with the speed of the TRENDSETTER Q400 and the quality of SONORA plates the benefits have been huge. Undoubtedly, the speed of the machine alone is much more than we ever envisioned, and so far our on-press experience is also going very well, if not excellent. The integration into our workflow has been flawless, for which we are extremely grateful,” he added.

That integration process was crucial to the success of the migration from the company’s original platemaking process and was also fundamental to Golden Business Form’s decision to choose Kodak to help it future proof its platemaking. The company operates round the clock with day and night production shifts, so careful planning and adequate on-site support were vital to ensuring the change would not impact its pressroom production schedule.

Built on proven KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology, the 4-page TRENDSETTER Q400 combines stable, precise imaging with streamlined automation. Eliminating the processor saves around two minutes per plate—approximately 2.25 hours for 65 plates and more than 24 hours per month. Together with SONORA Process Free Plates, it also reduces errors, remakes, energy, water, chemistry and maintenance, lowering costs and supporting sustainability goals.

“Golden Business Forms is deservedly proud of its track record for reliability and service, so it was vital to them that the migration from their original platemaking process to process free would not impact on their production schedule,” commented Jeff Zellmer, Vice President Americas Sales, Kodak. “We’re delighted that the combination of Kodak products, technical expertise and on-site resources has been able to not just deliver that transition successfully, but to exceed expectations.”

Source: Kodak