William Mitting, printweek.com, 20 June 2008
Print veteran Nigel Wallbank is to launch Think Colour, a start-up print company specialising in short-run litho, competing with digital alternatives.
Wallbank, who has 22 years of experience in print has moved into a 186sqm site in Wetherby, where he will install a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52-4+L Anicolour, a Suprasetter A52, and a Polar 78X guillotine.
Wallbank said: "There is a gap in the market for litho which can compete with digital technology. The quality of digital has a long way to go. Although some results are good, it's not consistent. After only a few hundred, digital loses its advantage."
The purchase was financed through State Securities with a deal brokered by Mark Quinn of, newly formed print finance company BPFL.
Wallbank said he was not fazed by the current market. "It is tough out there," he acknowledged. "But the upshot of that is that more people will shop around and the Anicolour gives us a significant advantage in the market."
Think Colour will start up later this month and will be based at the Thorp Arch Trading Estate in Wetherby, Leeds.