LI Show updateDebbie, Kath and Harry were rushed off their feet this week when they attended the Library and Information Show at the NEC. They talked to over 400 individuals about their great selection of durable library cards and library products. They gave away over 300 prizes in the Spectrum 'traffic light' game and two top prize winners walked away with £100 worth of funding for their library. Spectrum have already booked a bigger and better stand for 2009 so watch this space! Spectrum supply over 70% of the UK's library cards. For more information contact Debbie Green on 0161 480 7202. Spectrum go green!Spectrum are keen to reduce the environmental impact of their manufacturing techniques at every opportunity. They have been investigating recycling opportunities for their waste for years and in April smashed their 2008 target of recycling FOUR TONNES of waste per month. Previously this would have gone into landfill sites. Spectrum are now looking at other ways in which they can help to protect the environment. Spectrum show support for librariesSpectrum Plastics have been producing library joining cards for over twenty years and around 70% of all libraries in the UK now use library cards produced by them – it’s a figure they’re very proud of. Spectrum have forged close links with local authorities up and down the country. They circulate a quarterly newsletter, ‘Library Talk’ which is well read throughout the Library community. Debbie Green, Libraries Manager at Spectrum, understands the special requirements that Councils have with regard to Library card products and she specialises in helping them to get the most out of their tight budgets. Debbie runs a ‘Design a library card’ competition sponsored by the company. This encourages children and parents to get more involved in their local library. Councils can take part in the scheme by contacting Debbie (debbie@spectrumplastics.co.uk) and taking a minimum order. Spectrum provide competition prizes and also offer a discount in artwork set up charges to the local authority – this way everyone wins! Debbie says: "It's so rewarding to be working in such an important area. Children just love taking part in our competitions and if it means that we encourage more library visits then what could be better!" Spectrum will exhibit the forthcoming Library and Information show on the 23rd and 24th April, you can meet them on stand 834. They will have a special traffic light game where you can scan the barcode of a specially produced library card and see if you are the top prize winner of £100 worth of equipment for your local library, or an amber light winner – win one of 300 ‘National Year of Reading’ mugs. Spectrum are proud to support the National Year of Reading. They have produced free commemorative bookmarks for libraries to celebrate the event which. Contact debbie@spectrumplastics.co.uk for more information. The National Year of Reading activities include: April: Read all about it! Links to newspapers and magazines; library membership campaign. May: Mind and Body. Reading and learning at work. The knock-on benefits of reading. June: Reading escapes. Holiday and summer reads. For more information go to: www.yearofreading.org.uk. Hull Libraries have just created a wonderful keyfob-bookmark childrens’ ticket using artwork from the book Mr Pusskins, written and illustrated by author Sam Lloyd and published by Orchard Books. Lisa Jenkinson of Hull City Council says: “Deborah Green and her team had to work closely with the publishers and Sam Lloyd to make sure they were in agreement when we were using their artwork. This worked really well and the end product looks great!” Lisa goes on to say: “Hull Libraries have worked with Spectrum Plastics for the last 3 and a half years with regards to the design and supply of Hull Libraries joining tickets and certainly everyone who I have dealt with along the way have been very helpful. I would certainly recommend working with Deborah or any of her colleagues at Spectrum, whatever your requirement. New rotary die-cutting machine first of it’s kind in UKSpectrum Plastics have just invested over £80K in a bid to improve plastic card production capacity and timescales. Their brand new totally automated cutting machine will cut 75K cards per hour – and that’s fast! “We are getting extremely busy and this machine will help give us the capacity to carry on growing.” says Kathryn Doran, MD at Spectrum. She goes on to say, “Less wastage, no more manual feeding and the improved cutting speeds will mean we can improve production timescales and overall efficiency.” The sheet fed rotary die-cutting machine has been manufactured in America and it will arrive in Stockport on 7 March. It will be commissioned by 14 March and the Spectrum team are raring to get started. Having been manufactured to Spectrum’s exacting specifications the machine is a unique piece if kit in the UK. Spectrum need the extra capacity as the company is seeing large numbers of new customers as well as continued repeat orders. Since re-branding last year order books have been filling up quickly! Specifications: • Automatic deep pile sheet feeding and precise adjustable side registration. • Automatic and precise servo controlled registration to the rotary die tool. • Precision crafted rotary die tool for perfect card quality every time. • Tooling costs at 1/10 punch press technology, on comparable yields. • Equipment costs at almost half that of punch press’ with triple the productivity. • Custom delivery designs for the full range of laminated card requirements. Library and Information Show 2008Join us on stand 834 on 23rd and 24th April in Hall 11 at the NEC. We'll be showing off our great selection of durable library cards and meeting our library customers from around the UK and Ireland. Spectrum supply over 70% of the UK's library cards. For more information contact Debbie Green on 0161 480 7202. Trade Only Show TriumphSpectrum attended the Trade Only show on 28th and 29th January and were delighted at being so incredibly busy. “I did not even look at my watch, let alone have a coffee before 3pm on the first day, the feedback has been incredible!” says Kath Doran. Since getting back to the office the team have been busy doing nothing but nothing but non-stop quotes and getting back to contacts made at the show. Several big projects are in the pipeline. Spectrum joined forces with representatives from the IPIA and found that this new more promotionally focussed audience were really interested in the products they had to offer. The 2008 Trade Only National Show exceeded all expectations with over 1350 visitors (63% up on 2007) Visitors from 15 different countries and exhibitors from the UK, Europe and the USA. Andrew Pearce, Chief Executive of the Independent Print Industries Association had this to say about the Trade Only National Show " the event was a resounding success for the ten IPIA members who exhibited together under the IPIA pavilion banner, so much so that I have already reserved space at the 2009 Show, and I hope that more members will join us next year." If you met us there we hope you enjoyed your visit and that you were one of the many people who took part in the Spectrum traffic lights game. We managed to give away over 150 prizes in the two days, including lots of bottles of win! If you didn’t get chance to pick up our information pack at the show or need any free samples or indeed samples for your own jobs, please give us a call on 0161 480 7202. Newsletter for librariesSpectrum are working on a big project to keep local authorities up to date on advances in library card manufacture. Local authorities will start receiving a newsletter from January giving them lots of key information, discounts and competitions. It's hoped that the newsletter will form an important tool in educating libraries on the potential of library cards, and also generate a network whereby local authority and library staff can communicate with one another. For more information contact Debbie Green at Spectrum. About 70% of all libraries in the UK now use library cards produced by Spectrum Plastics. They offer not only the standard credit card sized cards, but ones that incorporate a keyfob and bookmark. New library cards in StockportLocal authorities have been signing up to a library card competition sponsored by Spectrum Plastics that encourages children and parents to get more involved in their local library. Stockport is the most recent area to complete the competition. Rebecca Harnett (aged 5) and Pearl Palfreyman (aged 10) won the competition with the beautiful designs photographed here. The presentation took place as part of the Reading Comes Alive 'festival' in Merseyway Shopping Centre. The prizes were presented by Lynne Chapman, who is a professional picture-book illustrator. In addition to the gift tokens supplied by Spectrum Lynne also drew an original, personalised picture for the two winners. Photographed are (from left to right): Janet Wood (Development & resources Manager, Stockport Library & Information Service, Rebecca Harnett, Lynne Chapman and Pearl Palfreyman. Local authorities can take part in the scheme by contacting Debbie at Spectrum and taking a minimum order. Spectrum provide competition prizes and also offer a discount in artwork set up charges to the local authority – that way everyone wins! About 70% of all libraries in the UK now use library cards produced by Spectrum Plastics. They offer not only the standard credit card sized cards, but ones that incorporate a keyfob and bookmark. “It’s so rewarding to be working in such an important area. Children just love taking part in something like this and if it means that we encourage more library visits then what could be better!” says Debbie Green, Libraries Manager, Spectrum Plastics. Spectrum success at Telford On October 10th and 11th Spectrum exhibited at the Print For Business Exhibition at the International Centre in Telford. The new stand was a roaring success and Kath and her team have been swamped with new enquiries and quote requests. If you were at the show you will also have had the opportunity to win Spectrum USB sticks or up to £150 of travel vouchers. On Wednesday Darren Wood of Sixmedia won the top prize and on Thursday Dasha Tolkachevam, pictured with Harry Haslam, won the opportunity to take a trip with her prize of travel vouchers. Well done to both of our lucky winners and let us know where you end up on your trip! Harry moves into Account Manager role Harry Haslam has recently been appointed Account Manager at Spectrum Plastics. Having worked for several years as Spectrum's screen print specialist Harry brings a wealth of experience and first hand knowledge to the role. Harry will be making initial contact with Spectrum customers over the next few months and his role will be critical to customer care within the organisation. If you'd like to know more or arrange a visit from Harry just call him on 0161 480 7202. Unbeatable Plastic cards using 100% plastic materialsSpectrum Plastics produce tear-proof plastic cards that are exceptionally durable and can be cut to any size or shape. Spectrum use a unique synthetic polyester substrate that, when heated during production, forms a permanent bond with the encapsulate, giving it added strength and flexibility. The finished product is a highly durable card that can be custom-designed, printed, sealed and cut to your requirements. Available in a wide range of gauges and finished in gloss or matt they can also be personalised to feature photos, names, numbers or barcodes. Spectrum are one of the largest plastic card manufacturers in the UK and, with over 10 years experience, and can ensure perfect results at fantastic prices - whatever the size of order. Typical uses include:
Spectrum re-invent themselves as encapsulation brand leaderSpectrum Plastics have just unveiled their new logo and brand identity. Spectrum felt they had moved on as a company over the last few years and the team felt it was time for a refresh. The new logo is as colourful as the people within the organisation itself and their new strap-line – ‘Encapsulating your needs’ is really what they’re all about. “It’s not just a logo it’s a whole mind-set change of direction for our company – we’ve officially become a customer centric brand!” says Kath Doran, Managing Director, Spectrum Plastics. Spectrum's 'design-a-library card' competition a big hit Local authorities have been signing up to a library card competition sponsored by Spectrum that encourages children and parents to get more involved in their local library. Manchester and Cumbria are the most recent areas to complete the library card design competition. Local authorities can take part in the scheme by contacting Spectrum and taking a minimum order. Spectrum provide competition prizes and also offer a discount in artwork set up charges to the local authority – that way everyone wins! About 50% of all libraries in the UK now use library cards produced by Spectrum Plastics. They offer not only the standard credit card sized cards, but ones that incorporate a keyfob and bookmark. “It's so rewarding to be working in such an important area. Children just love taking part in something like this and if it means that we encourage more library visits then what could be better!” says Deborah Green, Libraries Manager, Spectrum Plastics. Catalogue innovation cuts costs and production timeOur innovative new process to manufacture catalogue pages at super-quick speeds will save you time and money. The unique new process involves automated in-line punching of encapsulated catalogue pages that previously had to be drilled as a separate operation. This saves time at point of manufacture and in turn means that Spectrum can pass the savings on to their customers, offering lower than normal costs for catalogue encapsulation work. Spectrum Plastics encapsulate catalogues for many high street retailers and leisure companies - they know Spectrum's techniques and standards are the best in the industry. Precision finishing is the key to Spectrum's success – drilling, cutting, creasing, collating, packing, and delivering is done to exacting standards. They can handle large volumes: up to a million sheets per week if required! “We had the idea of in-line punching years ago but it's taken many months of development to perfect the process. We can now offer in-line punching for all catalogue encapsulation work….it's all part of ongoing progress here at Spectrum. We embrace new technologies and develop our own way of making things simpler and easier wherever we can.” says Kath Doran, Managing Director Spectrum Plastics.
|
Current News
|
