FCL Graphics continues expansion by investing in new Colter & Peterson finishing equipment

FCL Graphics is a major printer in the Chicago marketplace for 40 years, having cultivated long-term relationships with key customers and partners to drive their success. The direct marketing and campaign management company also is very good at what they deliver for customers and making critical decisions that combine smart investments and creativity have produced timely and impressive results.

For example, a recent equipment purchase is making a sizeable impact on its operation. Faced with more new work late last summer, management realized they needed help getting product out the back door. They found the answer after calling local partner Tompkins Printing Equipment Company. Last October, FCL invested in two new Saber® X15 paper cutters, a new jogger and a complete lift system from Colter & Peterson.

By design, FCL installed only one of the two heavy duty 45” paper cutters, opting to wait until mid-January to complete the process with the second Saber unit.

“The fourth quarter is our busiest time of the year. With the amount of work we handle on an everyday basis, we figured the best thing to do was to split the installation,” said Dino DeVivo, VP of Production & Scheduling. “Right now, we are 100% happy with this equipment. It has helped increase our paper cutting production by at least 10%.”

Getting results to match or exceed expectations at FCL Graphics begins with research.

“We are a service driven company and we run 24/7, with three, 8-hour shifts every day,” noted DeVivo. An FCL executive who began working at the Harwood Heights company 30 years ago, he held key roles in quality control and sales before taking over production and scheduling responsibilities 10 years ago.

“We have been successful at FCL because we’ve changed with the times. Our work mix is across-the-board and there is no job too large or small that we can’t handle effectively. We realized last summer that some of the finishing equipment could use an upgrade, so we did some research and called Carol.”

Carol is Carol Kucha, senior account manager for Tompkins, the print equipment company located a few minutes away in Schiller Park and a stone’s throw from the runways at O’Hare International Airport. The dealership has developed a solid reputation over 80 years and employs the largest experienced bindery and finishing service department in the Midwest. They first aligned with FLC four years ago with the purchase of UV coating equipment, but this is the first time FLC has purchased C&P machinery.

“Working with Tompkins has proven successful. They are a valued partner in the growth of our business,” remarked DeVivo. “It’s been a very good partnership and Carol is always on the spot with us.”

DeVivo said Tompkins presented a couple of options, but the recommendation of C&P’s equipment was the clear-cut choice.

“The Saber X-15 paper cutters are well-built pieces of machinery and they are much better than competitor models of the same size. Our largest sheet size is 40” and we use a 38” roll size on our web press, so the 45” Saber is right for us,” revealed DeVivo, who indicated FCL uses three other paper cutters.

Manufactured to ISO-9001 standards with automatic knife adjustment, the Saber X-15 has earned its workhorse reputation. Designed with cutting-edge technology, the Microcut® 15-inch wide format color touch screen provides easy to use programming and control options. Programs can be uploaded from a network or with a USB device using CIP ¾ files, and no additional hardware or software is needed.

DeVivo says the total equipment package, which includes the automatic jogger and lift system, is part of the success that allows FCL to stay ahead of its competition.

“It took a couple of days to install and we had one day of training for our crew,” he concluded. “Things have gone very smoothly and we’ve been impressed with the installation, service and the warranty.”