PERFORMA

The Filip printshop was founded in 1990 as a small company providing graphic art services. In the first five years, the services were provided on an incompatible single colour printing press of the SRB3 format.

The company could only offer individuals and companies simple services considering the significant limitations in the performance and printing quality. The orders from companies mainly consisted of label printing.

The company relocated into their own premises after five years of business activity. At that time, a new two-colour printing press of the SRB3 format and two single-colour presses also of the SRB3 format were purchased which allowed to increase the printshop production options.

During the first half of this year, the printshop had been preparing for investment into the purchase of another press from KBA-Grafitec, this time the KBA Performa 74

The development and improvement of the company competitiveness in the area of prices and quality of the provided services could not avoid further investment. After a further six years the company bought through leasing a second hand four-colour offset press of the SRA2 format.

In the footprints of technology development

The printshop development must follow footprints of the printing development. In the era of CtP, after investment into the printing, it was a matter of course that the time for the pre-press arrived. The complete reconstruction and additional development of the premises together with their adjustment to the new printing requirements had to be implemented to allow for the new installation of the pre-press system. In 2005, the company launched the operation of a modern system for the CtP preparation of offset printing plates from the company Heidelberg, which were also purchased on leasing.

The next stage of company development included the comprehensive installation of the information system and the implementation of the network which connected all the work stations related to the printing. This also allowed for the data transfer in digital form directly into the equipment for preparation of the offset printing plates.

Considering that the company had used the operated press to its maximum in terms of printing quality, the press was sold at the beginning of 2006 and a new five-colour offset press, KBA Performa 66-5 of the SRA2 format from KBA-Grafitec, was bought on leasing instead

Part of the printshop investment included the purchase of highly specialised equipment for folding finished prints as a reaction to the requirements of those companies which produce maps and user manuals. Further leasing purchases included the collating and stitching line from the company Horizon.

Considering that the company had used the operated press to its maximum in terms of printing quality, the press was sold at the beginning of 2006 and a new five-colour offset press, KBA Performa 66-5 of the SRA2 format from KBA-Grafitec, was bought on leasing instead.

Funding from the Union

During the first half of this year, the printshop had been preparing for investment into the purchase of another press from KBA-Grafitec, this time the KBA Performa 74 with a chamber doctor blade coating tower which was co-financed from European Union funds, specifically from the fund for regional development within the sector operational programme – support for company competitiveness.

The co-financing was only possible due to the thorough company development strategy implemented by the owners which positioned them in between the goals set by the European Union, i.e. support for the competitiveness and innovation technologies for small companies.

The well prepared business intentions together with the request for co-financing were only a reflection of the objectives which were set by the printshop during its development. The presented request for funding was positively assessed and the printshop could receive the grant. Let us just remind ourselves that the formula for receiving the funding was a clear development concept and well prepared application documentation.

The process of printshop modernization will not stop in this stage of current investment. The company plans to include the purchase of many other presses which will extend the current machine pool, especially in terms of book binding technology.

The company currently offers services in the area of the graphic art industry, mainly for institutions. The printshop produces books, newspapers, magazines, packaging material and labels in addition to the printing of promotional material

This thoroughly implemented development strategy means that the small Filip printshop has turned into one of the largest printshops in the region. During the same time period, many other printshops, including some that were state owned, went into liquidation. In addition to the Filip printshop, there are a maximum of three other companies which can be currently ranked among significant printshops.

What next?

The possibilities of cooperation with foreign partners have improved significantly with the entry of Poland into the European Union, the barriers related to the customs duty procedures have disappeared which has had a positive effect on the development of mutual cooperation, especially with partners from the frontier region of Germany. After the completion of the modernisation, the owners want to increase the share of the sale of services to include EU customers. The modern Filip printshop is capable of fulfilling the requirements of their foreign partners. It is already experiencing a significant increase in interest for potential cooperation.

The company currently offers services in the area of the graphic art industry, mainly for institutions. The printshop produces books, newspapers, magazines, packaging material and labels in addition to the printing of promotional material.

The printshop implemented large format digital printing into their offer, as part of the activities related to the expansion of the range of provided services. The 3D printing system which saw the light of day based on a project by Petr Nawracał, one of the company co-owners, is also included in the printshop production. The 3DmasterKit system received an award at the Photographic Exhibition in Lodz in 2004. Besides this, a unique programme for single or multiple impositions was created in cooperation with the Tegraf company.

The co-owners goals also include maintaining the universal character of the printshop with a wide service assortment.