The print roster
Why do we need an approved list of printer companies?
With more than 80 print suppliers on Efin, the university’s spend on print was fragmented and we were not using our combined spending power to get best value.
We were concerned about the environmental impact of printing. When choosing the roster of printer companies great emphasis was placed on the environmental procedures and accreditations of each company. Please see ‘sustainability’ below for more information.
The amount of money the university spends on printing means that, legally, we were obliged to engage in an EU tender process.
The benefits
- As all printer companies have been through a tender process, it will not now be necessary to request three quotations (although sometimes this is still advisable – see ‘choosing a print company’ below).
- Each printe company has been assessed for price, quality and environmental accreditation you can be confident that you will get the best quality print, with the least impact on the environment – and save money too.
- Time will also be saved, as the publications team can advise on which printer is best for which job – there is no need to source and select printers (see ‘choosing a printer’ below).
Choosing a print company
Eleven suppliers have been appointed across four categories. The publications team can advise on the best printe company for each job. In many cases, you may be referred to Reprographics as they can often offer the best price.
We have guide prices from the appointed print companies for regularly ordered work but recommend that you seek three quotes for bespoke work to ensure that you get best value. We can suggest which print companies to approach and can supply an order form to help ensure that all aspects of the print job are considered.
Please contact:
If you have any questions about the roster, please contact:
Beth Leese, Publications and corporate identity manager: e.leese@brighton.ac.uk, x2606
Reprographics
The reprographics team can also advise you on print. Reprographics are the university’s in-house print facility. In many cases, they can produce your print for you at a better price than an external supplier.
Please contact David Carver or Denise Carter on x2790.
For a guide to Reprographics, visit http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/cms/.
Categories of work
The publications team and Reprographics worked together with Purchasing to examine the university’s print jobs. In most cases, work that cannot be produced by reprographics (either because they do not produce a particular type of work, or because they do not have capacity at the time it is required) will fall into one of the four categories:
Category 1: Large format print and digital work, for example:
- A1 research/presentation posters
- Large format printing: A2 or above (small quantities – up to 50 – that would not be produced litho)
- Display materials: display stands, foam boards, vinyl banners etc.
- Longer run-length digital work (more than 500 A3)
- Short-run book work
Category 2: Medium run
This category accounts for a large proportion of print work produced by the university. It comprises regular, repeated work and ad hoc bespoke work. For example:
- Quantities: 500-20k
- Course brochures
- Annual report
- Cards
- Postcards
- Leaflets
- Folders
- Magazines
Category 3: Prospectuses
Marketing and Communications produces the undergraduate and international prospectuses on an annual basis. Other departments may also require longer-run length book printing.
- Quantities: up to 100k
- Extent 80+ pages
Category 4: Art catalogue production/fine art printing
High specification, colour-accurate printing producing a true likeness of artworks.
Sustainability
The university is committed to sustainable development and states in the Corporate Plan that we will further reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions, and increase our recycling capacity.
All our print companies conform to the following minimum requirements:
-
certificated to ISO14001:2004 www.british-accreditation.co.uk
- FSC Chain of Custody, or equivalent, ie Nordic Swan, Blue Angel, PEFC, accreditation (or in the process of obtaining the accreditation) www.fsc-uk.org
- use vegetable- or soya-based inks*
- own in-house recycling of waste and use of other energy-saving methods (ie renewable energy).
Some also conform to the following:
*all ways of minimising the use of harmful chemicals.
The publications team can advise on the processes used by the approved suppliers.
All university publications will be printed on paper with a minimum 50 per cent recycled content (the remaining content from sustainable sources). Your print company or the publications team can advise further.
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