From left to right: David Uriegas, Slate Group ApexFoil Operator; Don Denny, Slate Group Owner; Brad Phinny, Slate Group COO; Kenneth “KC” Chapin, Kluge Technician
Slate Group, a national commercial printer out of Lubbock, TX, has greatly expanded their in-house capabilities to include Foil Stamping and Embossing by installing Kluge’s ApexFoil machine. Although the key properties of foil stamping are easy to identify – Time, Temperature, and Tonnage (3-T’s) – they have often been difficult to measure and control. Operators at Slate Group can use the ApexFoil’s Compass™ control system that includes patented features to control the 3-T’s. Compass allows operators to greatly reduce, and in some cases, eliminate make-ready on every job.
Slate Group focuses on providing their clients with a consistent look, no matter the print job requirements. Since opening their doors in 1985, they have aimed to build a reputation of creativity, consistency, and quality. They involve their customers as much as possible in the creative process, coming up with print solutions customers originally didn’t know were possible. And by adding foil stamping and embossing they can control the turnaround times and ensure the quality standards their customers at Slate Group have come to expect.
They have been impressed from the beginning with the heated platen and intermittent controls of dwell and pressure on their Kluge and are certain those features will help them continue to produce the best possible print products and truly stand out from their competitors. They also point out how Kluge’s support and in-depth training will help them fully utilize all the features of their new machine:
“The quality and ease of use of our new ApexFoil machine, along with the sale, installation and support of the Kluge team, especially Kenneth ‘K.C.’ Chapin, has exceeded our expectations,” said Brad Phinny, COO at Slate Group.
However, it turns out that Slate Group themselves were able to teach Kluge’s technician a thing or two about running the ApexFoil:
“David Uriegas, Slate Group’s ApexFoil operator, is a phenomenal beginner on Kluge foil stamping,” said Kluge Technician Kenneth “KC” Chapin. “He has shown me skill levels way beyond where I have picked it up from. It is good to see new talent forming and shaping with the new presses that Kluge has built.”
It is important to Slate Group to be able to follow through on its claims of producing high-quality work, which is why they make sure to invest in equipment that will let them do just that. They chose a Kluge for its heavy-duty construction and precise registration, along with the company reputation for service and support. As they aim to be a reliable, high-quality company, it is important for them to have reliable, high-quality equipment they can trust.
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