It’s probably every factory owners worst nightmare. In February of 2011 four business directors – Chris, James and Laurence Cook, and Andrew Reynolds – lived that nightmare as foiling and embossing die manufacturer Sil-Die Ltd’s 11,200 sq ft premises in Maldon, Essex was engulfed with flame, and explosions filled the air (BBC news footage of the fire can be found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12407204). A sanding machine was the likely culprit. Over 100 members of the emergency services were involved in controlling the blaze at the company’s Maldon site.

New premises were found in nearby Witham, and the brothers set about rebuilding their business. As part of their requirements, Sil-Die needed fast access to an imagesetter. Marlowe Graphics came to the rescue and were able to deliver a temporary machine just a couple of days after the initial contact.

This loan machine was swiftly replaced with two refurbished ECRM Stingray 63 imagesetters complete with in-line plate processor, and all driven via a StudioRIP front-end. Film-based original images are still the most efficient way of creating dies.

Commenting on the swift response from MGS, James Cook, director of Sil-Die said: “It was certainly a tough time for us as a business, but with suppliers like Marlowe able to assist us with loan equipment, and then source a cost effective final solution for our film creation needs, we were able to re-establish the business and begin again to serve our customers – many of whom, of course, are in the printing and packaging industries.”

Sil-Die is a family business founded in 1977 with the specialist craft skills of hand engraving providing the foundation of the business. The company consistently deliver dies of the highest quality, duplicates and counterforces, in a variety of materials. Sil-Die has always kept abreast of new technologies in all areas, utilising fast order processing systems, as well as the latest in materials and die manufacturing methods.

Andy Hemmings, Sales Director at Marlowe Graphic Services, commenting on the installation, said; “It was devastating to see the company’s ruined factory, but they were 100% determined to rebuild and recreate the company at the new site in the fastest possible time in order to provide the minimum impact on customers. We were delighted to be able to assist Sil-Die in providing a loan imagesetter unit just to get things started again while we sourced two Stingray machines for the company.”

For further information on Sil-Die call 01376 512 015 or visit the www.sildie.com web site. Video footage of the fire at the company’s Maldon factory can be viewed at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12407204