Tax could have been taxing

Prime Group has just completed one of its most challenging projects to date: the production of 725,000 tax cards for accountancy marketing consultancies Practice Track and Mercia Group.

Prime Group was appointed for the first time by Practice Track to produce 435,000 tax cards, which had to be printed and dispatched for the 2008 Budget; the catch was that Prime had only five days to produce the 6- and 8-page full colour tax cards, an incredibly tight deadline.

Adding Practice track to a similar contract for tax cards for the Mercia Group meant adding specialist equipment to their plant list to complete the project.

Commenting on the project, Jon Tolley, Prime Group's MD, said: "We can easily cope with such high volumes, especially in our new purpose-built premises where we had space to install a new Autobond Laminator and a fourth Morgana Creaser.

"We would normally be working to a more generous lead time, but our approach is that we always deliver the goods and this was going to be no exception".

In order to deliver everything on time the company introduced a shift pattern, 24-hour printing programme.

Tolley added: "I was delighted how the team raised their game and got the job done.

"We've previously ran a two shift operation but going to 24-hour production meant a change to regular working patterns and it was certainly interesting being on the factory floor at 4am".

In order to meet the needs of so many clients (some 2,000 accountancy firms) in such a very short space of time, Prime employed the use of multiple technologies using both Heidelberg Litho presses and HP Indigo digital presses uniquely printing 6 colour Indichrome inks to match 96 per cent of all Pantone colours, including a Digital Pantone spot colour.

Tolley explained: "One specific card was for a large financial group who have very specific demands for their corporate colours.

"The order was made up of generic cards (consistent to both the front and back) and personalised where the partner for the firm could have their own personal details printed on the front.

"Because of the design of the card the personalised details had to be printed using a special digital Pantone Spot colour so that the generic and personalised cards matched exactly.

"This process is unique to the HP Indigo presses and means we are able to cater for all eventualities".

The project was delivered on time and Sue Andrews at Practice Track was delighted with Prime's service: "This is the first time we used Prime Group and I was very pleased with the quality of service they provided.

"When charged with our largest annual project, astute timing and solid management is paramount to achieving the required result.

"Faced with such challenging and pressurised circumstances, Prime remained calm and performed the task to a very high standard".

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