The partnership between QI Press Controls and US-based Perretta has borne its first fruit with an integrated installation at IntegraColor in Mesquite, Texas.

The North American commercial printer wanted to replace its ink, register, cut-off and colour control systems, and was introduced to QIPC through its partnership with Perretta. With the installation now in regular use, IntegraColor are apparently delighted with the result of the introduction.

QIPC-EAE Americas managing director Ronald Reedijk says the project started with a plan to replace the ink system with Perretta's segmented fountains system: "Since this was quite a complicated operation, it was decided to replace the register, cut-off and colour control systems at the same time... and our collaboration made it an attractive proposition to have the whole operation arranged through one and the same party.

"Our system is fully integrated with Perretta's software", he says.

Perretta vice-president Stephen Perretta says the synergy of sales, engineering and production departments enabled them to link QIPC's closed-loop colour-control system to their own segmented ink fountains: "It opens up new markets for both companies, and I think this project has proved such a big success because of the seamless integration of our products and the perfect cooperation between the two companies."

QIPC installed its mRC-3D system for colour-register and cut-off control and an IDS-3D system for closed-loop colour control on IntegraColor's Mitsubishi Diamond heatset press, while Perretta was responsible for fitting their ink fountains and presetting system. "We're extremely happy," IntegraColor director of print operations Bob Richard says. "We're very grateful for Perretta's introducing us to QIPC. The QIPC interface with Perretta is seamless and is easy to operate for our staff.

"Efficiency on the work floor has increased significantly, and as an example, we've managed to raise profit levels on a large multimillion dollar account by no less than nine per cent."