Author: tge-admin

At The Grey Elephant, we’re not just another software company; we’re pioneers in turning the complex challenges of label and packaging printing into profitable solutions. Our mantra is simple: help you print more labels and packaging more profitably. 

Our journey begins in the heart of your printing operations – the Plate Room.  

The Plate Room Paradox

We know that stopping the press for plate changes in short print runs eats into your profits. Often overlooked, the Plate Room, is a hidden gem for boosting efficiency. Our approach? Automate and optimize to make your operation more profitable. In many printing companies, the Plate Room is a maze of manual operations and inefficiencies. We saw this as an opportunity for improvement. Why should this vital process lag behind in an era of digital transformation? 

The Impact of Automation

Imagine a world where every aspect of your printing tools is memorized and automated to reduce labor costs, optimize plate usage, and ensure your presses run efficiently and profitably. With The Grey Elephant, automation means more than just streamlined workflows, it’s about unlocking the potential of your Plate Room, reducing errors, and increasing overall productivity. Our solution, Track&Trace4Tools, is the key to this transformation. 

Track&Trace4Tools, is tailored to the printing industry’s unique needs. It automatically schedules print sequences, verifies plate names with a barcode scan, and manages errors and audits efficiently – all while remembering every detail so you don’t have to. Imagine a system where every tool and process in your Plate Room is tracked, traceable, and manageable at the click of a button.  

It’s not just software; it’s a revolution in how you handle your printing tools. 

Why The Grey Elephant?

We are not just a software company; we are your partner in efficiency. Our unique technology, crafted for the Plate Room, integrates with your workflow for instant access to vital information, leading to more efficient and profitable operations. Our software isn’t just a tool; it’s a solution crafted specifically for the Plate Room’s unique challenges. By focusing on this niche, we’ve developed a system that understands and addresses your specific needs. 

The Grey Elephant is the only company in the world that automates the printing-tools process. Our software connects a printing company’s ERP and Graphics Systems to close the gap between pre-press, press, platemaking, tools and dies, archiving and retrieval – all for an easy exchange of real-time information which drives down labour costs significantly and increases profits. At last, frustrated, stressed-out Plate Room/Prepress staff will have the software they need to be as efficient as possible! 

Join The Herd

Step into the future of flexo printing with The Grey Elephant. Join a community of forward-thinkers who have already embraced smarter, more efficient printing methods. It’s time to say goodbye to outdated practices and hello to innovation. 

Curious to learn more? Dive deeper into our world of smart printing solutions by downloading our comprehensive whitepaper, The Hidden Costs Plaguing Your Plate Room. It’s your first step towards revolutionizing your Plate Room.

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In the dynamic world of label and packaging printing, profitability is the ultimate goal. Achieving it often boils down to two core strategies: boosting sales and cutting costs. While expanding your client base and upselling existing customers can be highly rewarding, the often-underestimated power of cost-cutting through automation is a game-changer that can supercharge your bottom line.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the proven financial benefits of automation, specifically in the context of your Plate Room/Plate Department and prepress operations.

The Hidden Gems of Automation

Imagine a world where all processes within your print business, from Plate Room tasks to prepress operations, are seamlessly automated. This isn’t just a fantasy; it’s a powerful reality that can revolutionize your business in numerous ways. Automation is your key to unlocking:

But how do these trends influence your plate-making process? Let’s break it down.

1.

Enhanced Efficiency

Automation streamlines production, slashes costs, and enhances print quality. It empowers you to process more jobs in less time, all while delivering higher-quality print products.

2.

Reduced Turnaround Times

With automation, your business can operate at lightning speed. Faster ordering, reordering, billing, and delivery become the norm, impressing customers with swift service.

3.

Minimized Substrate Waste

Say goodbye to unnecessary paper and substrate waste. Automation optimizes your print processes, reducing waste and benefiting the environment while bolstering your bottom line.

4.

Error Reduction

Human errors are inevitable but costly. Automation drastically reduces these errors, ensuring the reliability and consistency that your clients expect. Happy customers lead to loyal customers.

Shifting from Mundane to Meaningful

Automation isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about making your team’s lives easier and more meaningful. As mundane, repetitive tasks are reduced, your staff gains precious time to focus on high-value, creative, and strategic endeavors. This not only boosts morale but also enhances your business’s overall productivity.

Furthermore, automation provides valuable insights into your processes. It identifies areas of productivity and inefficiency, offering analytics that empower you to make informed decisions that directly impact your bottom line. It’s like having a GPS for your business operations, guiding you toward greater profitability.

Proof in the Printing: Real-World Case Studies

Still skeptical about the transformative power that automation can bring to your Plate Room/Graphics Department? The Grey Elephant’s White Paper, Exposed: The Hidden Costs Plaguing Your Plate Room, features real-world examples of the shocking, unseen costs impacting your label and packaging company’s profitability – and the undeniable advantages of in-house automation for:

• Yearly Capacity Boost:
  Witness a staggering 30% increase in yearly capacity, enabling your business to take on more projects and grow its revenue stream.
• Rapid Job Processing:
  Watch as job preparation times plummet from hours to mere minutes, allowing you to meet tight deadlines and impress clients with quick turnarounds.
• Unleashed Throughput:
  Experience job throughput increases of up to 400%, enabling your business to handle higher volumes without compromising quality.
• Dramatic Labor Cost Reduction:
  Cut labor costs by over 50% and watch your profitability soar.

The Missing Piece: Automation for the Plate Room

While automation has made significant strides in the printing industry, one crucial area has been underserved—the Plate Room/Plate Department. This bustling hub of activity demands tailored automation solutions to meet its unique challenges. At The Grey Elephant, we understand the specific needs of this critical area, and we’re committed to providing automation solutions that cater to its demands.

Automation is the secret sauce that can propel your label and packaging printing business to new heights of profitability. By embracing it in your pre-press/plate-making operations, you can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and provide top-tier service that keeps your customers coming back for more.

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If you read 10 articles about today’s most popular packaging and labeling trends, you’ll likely be faced with (at least) 10 different opinions. To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand how each affects your Plate Room/Plate Department – if at all.

As a software company dedicated to automating the pre-press and plate-making processes for flexo label and packaging printers, we’ve seen firsthand the transformation taking place in the industry. So, let’s dive in and explore how these trends are shaking up your Plate Room.

In an era where information is abundant, it’s no surprise that the packaging and labeling landscape is constantly shifting. Sustainability, smart packaging, molded fiber packaging, personalization, and versioning are just a few of the trends that have captured the industry’s attention.

But how do these trends influence your plate-making process? Let’s break it down.

1.

Sustainability: The Green Revolution 

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a driving force behind packaging decisions. Sustainable practices may require special inks, substrates, or even reducing the packaging itself, leading to the need for special dies. Monitoring the lifecycle, mileage, and condition of plates or dies becomes crucial in this context.

2.

Bolder Colors and Special Embellishments 

The demand for eye-catching designs featuring bolder and more saturated colors, foil stamping, and raised 2D effects is on the rise. This can result in heavier ink coverage on specific parts of a plate. Fine details in hand-drawn illustrations are becoming popular, necessitating clear plate reproduction.

3.

Regulatory Compliance and Multilingual Packaging 

Global markets mean adhering to various regulations and languages. Tiny type as small as 4, 5, or 6 points must be legible, and the same regulatory text may occupy varying amounts of space on a package. This complexity leads to the creation of multiple plate versions, increasing the risk of human errors.

The crux of the matter is that each of these trends affects the printing plate, and as label and packaging designs become more intricate, Plate Room/Platemaking Departments must monitor plate conditions and mileage meticulously to ensure top-notch print quality during press runs.

As complexities mount, it’s crucial for printers to have control over all the tools used in the printing process, especially plates. The answer? Full automation. This approach provides real-time control and instant visibility over all printing tools and processes, minimizing the chances of costly reprints, missed deadlines, and, most importantly, keeping your customers happy.

With the advent of faster and more automated flexo and offset presses, the Plate Room/Platemaking Department now faces immense pressure to produce flawless plates well in advance of the run. The expectation is that jobs once printed digitally or on offset presses will exhibit the same quality when printed on flexo presses. Consequently, there’s an increased demand for a reliable platemaking process and ‘smart’ plate processing equipment with high uptime and easy maintenance.

To thrive in this ever-changing environment, Plate Room/Platemaking Departments must embrace automation and invest in the right tools and processes. By doing so, they can ensure top-quality prints, meet tight deadlines, and keep both brand owners and customers happy. It’s time to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead of the game in the world of label and packaging printing.

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