Sentinel Ink Management System Integrates with Komori Lithrone G40P

Sentinel Ink Management Systems announces the successful integration of its Sentinel iPro Ink Management System with a newly installed Komori Lithrone G40P at Tucker Castleberry, a premier commercial printer based in Atlanta, Georgia. This cutting-edge ink management technology has already delivered significant operational efficiencies, improved speed, and reduced waste for Tucker Castleberry’s high-volume printing operations.

Tucker Castleberry, a family-owned business founded in 1949, has built its reputation on high-quality commercial printing, including political materials, direct mail, product catalogs, and sports printing. With the addition of the Komori Lithrone G40P press with LED-UV, the company sought to maximize efficiency and streamline its ink management process. 

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

With the Sentinel iPro system in place, the Tucker Castleberry team has been able to focus on optimizing press performance without the constant need for manual ink replenishment. "It's absolutely true—the Sentinel Ink Management System is a game changer,” states Kent Tucker, Executive Vice President of Tucker Castleberry. “When the press is running 15,000 sheets an hour for political postcards, and you're laying down heavy ink coverage, without the Sentinel Ink System, a second pressman would be up there constantly knifing ink on our 8-color press. Now the system alerts the operator, and in 15 seconds he pulls out the empty ink canister and replaces it with a new one.”

Reducing Waste and Improving Ink Management

A major factor in Tucker Castleberry’s decision to integrate the Sentinel iPro system was the need to minimize ink waste and streamline ink usage. "Speed was a top priority,” continues Tucker, “how fast could we get printed sheets on the floor? We added the Sentinel Ink System to our Komori press because they reduce waste, make the process faster, and simplify ink canister changes for our team. With an eight-color press and only two operators, manually changing and dipping ink would be a full-time job at the speed our press runs. The Sentinel system allows our team to focus more on the front and back end of the press rather than constantly managing ink levels."

Intelligent Ink Tracking and Storage

"If you've ever run a press, you know that running out of ink can be a challenge,” observes Joe Hagan, a press operator at Tucker Castleberry, “but we never run out! For ink usage reporting, you simply enter the job number and the sheet count, and at the end of the job, you print a receipt that tells you exactly how many pounds of ink were used for each color. The system also keeps a log, so if you need to reprint a job six months later, you'll know precisely how much ink is required."

An added benefit of Sentinel is the system’s ability to preserve unused ink, and reduce unnecessary waste. "We don’t scoop out ink and throw it away,” continues Hagan. “At the end of the week, we simply remove the canister, set it aside, and put it right back in on Monday. On top of that, if we're not running all eight units but still have ink in them, we can put them on plow mode to keep the ink stirred. The same goes for PMS colors on smaller jobs—without a canister, the ink can start pulling away from the ink ball, but plow mode keeps it properly mixed. Without the Sentinels, we'd need at least three people just to manage ink. Now, all it takes is swapping a canister and pushing a button. Honestly, the best part is not having to put ink in the press with a knife—we love it."

"We are thrilled to see the positive impact the Sentinel iPro Ink Management System has had at Tucker Castleberry,” states David Doucette, Director of Sales at Sentinel Ink Management Systems. “Their team is now experiencing the full benefits of automated ink management—reduced waste, improved efficiency, and a more streamlined workflow. Our goal is to continue developing solutions that help printers maximize productivity and achieve the highest level of quality in their operations."

Source: Sentinel Ink Management Systems

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of Printing Impressions.