GT Print director Graham Hart told ProPrint that the company, which is based at Kunda Park on the Sunshine Coast, was about to commence print tests on the four-colour press with a view to having it in production mode by the end of next week.

The SM 74 (pictured) replaces a five-colour Sakurai press that had been at the company for three years. Hart called it a “stepping stone” to the SM 74.

“The makeready will be down 70% on what it was. Mind you, the last machine was a ’95 model, so the technology’s vastly changed since then,” he said.

“The other big thing is quality and environmental impact. We’re looking to bring the waste down; there should 70% less than what we were experiencing. It’s quite alarming to think about the amount we were sending off to recycling.”

GT Print has expanded its site to make way for the new press, turning the factory next door into the press room.

“Everything will work better by having things spaced out nicely,” Hart said.

The company also houses a two-colour Sakurai A2 press, which is used for spot colour work, and a single-colour Heidelberg GTO, which is used primarily for envelope printing.

The finishing department includes a variety of a stitching, collating, celloglazing and folding equipment.

Hart saw the investment as supporting the local economy by arresting the drain of print work and skills from the Sunshine Coast. “The workload on the Coast goes south to Brisbane at times.

“As the workload increases with this press, we’ll try to expand our staff and what we offer to the general public.”

GT Print, which was founded in 1990, employs seven full-time and two part-time staff.

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