Grafiche Milani

Grafiche Milani focuses on the printing and finishing of books, catalogs and commercial prints characterized by high-end print quality, exquisite embellishments and immaculate finishing for top-class publishing houses and cultural institutions, as well as fashion, interior design and luxury brands from all over Europe and the US. The company is known as a European pioneer in the use of H-UV (LE-UV) and H-UV L (LED-UV) curing technology in sheetfed offset.

Grafiche Milani recognized the need to enhance throughput capacity and equipment performance in the platemaking department while integrating an effective CTP backup solution to ensure production reliability. With customers increasingly demanding shorter job turnaround times and dependable service, the company aimed to expand automation in the plateroom. This would minimize manual touchpoints and personnel requirements, further streamlining the prepress process.

Additionally, environmental sustainability, which is of great importance to a growing number of customers, is a top priority for Grafiche Milani. This commitment is reflected in the company’s "Milani Green" program, which encompasses various initiatives and official certifications aimed at protecting nature and the environment. As part of its enhanced sustainability strategy, the print shop is also focused on implementing more sustainable practices in prepress to reduce resource consumption and minimize environmental impact.

When expanding its platemaking operations, Grafiche Milani chose to continue using KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology, thanks to its many years of positive experience. Oscar Colombo, General Manager, stated that this technology from Kodak "delivers the high level of precision and repeatability we require for reliable, high-quality plate imaging." Grafiche Milani opted for a KODAK MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter with X-Speed, equipped with an automatic Multi-Pallet Loader (MPL) that can accommodate two pallets, each holding up to 1,500 plates. This configuration allows the MAGNUS Q800, with a throughput of 45 plates per hour, to operate fully automatically over longer periods without operator intervention.

The MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter receives output data from the KODAK PRINERGY Platform, similar to a semi-automatic KODAK TRENDSETTER Q800 Platesetter that has been in use for some time. PRINERGY serves as the digital backbone of production at Grafiche Milani, enhancing productivity through automation and reducing waste by minimizing human error. Kodak's automated workflow solution ensures that the pressroom is continuously and reliably supplied with plates.

Grafiche Milani achieved a remarkable improvement in platemaking sustainability and efficiency by switching from traditional wet processed plates to process-free plates from Kodak. The prospect of eliminating plate processing equipment, along with the reduction in water, chemicals, and energy consumption, while getting plates to press faster, was very tempting. The company rigorously tested the KODAK SONORA Ultra Process Free Plates under demanding UV offset printing conditions. Impressed by the positive results, Grafiche Milani's management decided to completely switch to SONORA Ultra Plates. Oscar Colombo remarked, "What we particularly appreciate about SONORA Ultra Plates is its high contrast after imaging, which is just as good as with traditional plates. Additionally, the significantly improved tolerance for handling the plates under white light perfectly meets our operational needs."

The latest investments in future-proof technologies and solutions from Kodak empower Grafiche Milani to meet its customers’ needs more efficiently and sustainably. Furthermore, the ongoing partnership with Kodak positions the company to adapt effectively to future market changes.

With the commissioning of a high-throughput Kodak CTP solution with fully automatic plate loading from pallets and the transition to SONORA Ultra Process Free Plates, the Italian printer has opened a new chapter in its technology history – true to the company motto Grafiche Milani è la stampa di domani, da sempre (Grafiche Milani has always been the print shop of tomorrow).