Dobruška/Opava / The Grafico printshop was founded by its owner Michal Štěpánek in 1995. Prior to that Mr Štěpánek studied at economics university. As a student he went to France to work during the wine harvests. He invested the money he made into computer equipment and began to process typesetting for Opava printshops. He soon had problems with order deadlines at the partner printshops, a problem that he resolved by founding his own printshop.

The printshop has used and still uses machines from other manufacturers, but the presence of Grafitec Dobruška machines has been constant over the last ten years. The very first printing machine at Grafico came from Dobruška and was a two-colour Polly 725. When the Grafico name was established on the market, the printshop procured its first four-colour machine – a Polly 745. This was followed by a Polly 266 and then a five-colour Polly 755. Cooperation with Grafitec has so far culminated in purchase of a KBA Performa 74-5.

At first sight it is clear that all the printing machines are maintained in a model technical state. The new KBA Performa 74-5 printing machine is supplied with comprehensive standard accessories supplemented with a good choice from the options on offer. The machine is located in an air-conditioned hall and has a temperature controlled inking unit allowing top quality print production.

Over the years Grafico has expanded to 63 employees. It uses a total of four printing machines, operated by 12 printers. Printers are allocated to individual machines ensuring higher work productivity than "running from machine to machine“. Printing machine operation is subject to regular evaluation according to parameters such as number of set-ups, delays, etc. The complex of parameters is evaluated using special software, which is part of the motivation program in personnel management.

Fast operation set-up

The KBA-Grafitec Dobruška printing machine was shipped at the start of July. The new printing machine replaced the older five-colour Polly 755, which the supplier took in part-exchange. After putting into operation the Performa 74-5 quickly went over to a four-shift non-stop regime. The number of prints very quickly reached 1.5 million. Five printers take turns at the machine.

Grafico assesses the course and speed of installation very positively. Mr Štěpánek considers employees of the supplier who took part in the installation as some of the best service technicians in the Czech Republic. "And it's not only my opinion by far,“ adds the owner of the company Grafico.

The printshop values the developmental leap between the original printing machines from Dobruška and equipment of the new SRB2 format Performa 74 printing machines. Printers were used to the older "lever working" of the SRA2 format Polly 755 with classical dampening.  Mr Štěpánek compares the difference between the two machines to the changeover "fromthe Škoda Fabia to the Superb“.

Positive evaluation of service

On the question of whether the printshop is satisfied with service, Ing. Štěpánek replies: "Without exaggeration, service staff from other supplier and production companies could go to Dobruška to learn how it's done.“ The owner of the printshop appreciates the flexibility of service support, which is essential for a company working in a non-stop regime like Grafico. "I can call Grafitec service staff whenever, for example even at weekends," states Mr Štěpánek.

Printers very quickly learned the ropes on the Performa 74-5. Immediately after installation they managed six to seven orders per shift. Now they are able to do up to ten orders per shift. A wide range of polygraphic products can be produced on the Performa. The largest load was an order for 100,000 sheets, the smallest was an annual report of 250 pieces.

"If printers 'play around' with the work the machine can print even marginal paper weight,“ as Štěpánek characterises the interplay of printer and machine a few weeks after installation. The printing machine can print up to 13,000 sheets per hour. The printshop uses a print rate of up to 12,000 sheets/hour.

95 % printing plates are prepared using a CtP Prosetter 74. About 90 % of printing production is intended for other graphics studios. The company does not have its own studio, only an employee for graphic preparation of orders for local companies, etc. One of the business principles of Ing. Štěpánek is "not to have our own studio when we work for other studios, so as not to be in a competitive situation“.

Order for Oklahoma

Customers of Grafico come not only from the Czech Republic, but also from Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. The furthest customer was the American state of Oklahoma, for which a wall calendar was printed in Opava on a Polly 745 a few years ago. Mr Štěpánek can be proud of the thank you letter from the Governor of Oklahoma. Domestic customers of Grafico's products are usually based in Prague, Olomouc, Ostrava, Brno and Plzeň.

A printing machine is always operated by one printer and assistant. Printer Kamil Teichmann considers the new machine to be much faster than anything that he's printed on. The role of maculature at the start of an order is negligible. "We keep learning,“ as Mr Teichmann describes the level of knowledge of printers on the possibilities offered to them by the new KBA Performa 74-5 and the GrafiControl remote control system.

Grafico purchased the printing machine with help from the structural funds of the European Union. Support from the funds for supporting development of the commercial sector, specifically from the Operational Program Industry and Enterprise, required certain efforts in the area of administration, but it has been worth it. It gained a grant for purchasing the printing machine of 45.99 % of the purchase price. A condition of the grant programs is a selection procedure. "The KBA Performa 74-5 best suited the designated criteria between suppliers and manufacturers of printing machines," say  Michal Štěpánek.

The Grafico printshop's premises in Opava

Owner of Grafico printshop,  Michal Štěpánek (left) and printer Karel Teichmann with the KBA Performa 74-5 printing machine

KBA Performa 74-5 printing machine at the Grafico Opava company

The delivery of the KBA Performa 74-5