In an ever-evolving printing industry, Catapult Print has distinguished itself as a leader by delivering high-quality products faster and more cost-effectively than its competitors. Since its inception in July 2018, Catapult has grown rapidly, thanks in part to its strong partnership with Apex International, a premier supplier of anilox rollers. In a recent interview, Lewis Cook, CEO and Co-founder of Catapult, emphasized the crucial role that Apex’s GTT 2.0 anilox rollers have played in the company’s success.
"We came to market to disrupt, to change the way things are done, and to prioritize the customer," said Cook. "Our philosophy is all about delivering quicker, higher-quality products more cost-effectively than anyone else. Apex has been integral to that mission from the very beginning."
From the start, Catapult recognized the importance of controlling all variables in their printing process, and partnering with Apex was a key part of that strategy. Cook highlighted how Apex’s GTT 2.0 rollers, known for their patented open slalom channel geometry, have provided unparalleled consistency and quality. "We started with GTT 2.0 because we knew that it was and still is the highest quality product on the market. The results from our initial testing phase were impressive, and we've based our process on the foundation of GTT ever since," Cook explained.
Over the past six years, the relationship between Catapult and Apex has only grown stronger. Apex's expertise in the full print process, not just anilox rollers, has been a significant factor in Catapult's ability to deliver top-tier products to their clients. "Apex has been a critical partner from day one. We’ve done a lot of testing together to ensure that everything—from the rollers to the plates, inks, and presses—works perfectly for our model," Cook noted.
This partnership has allowed Catapult to streamline their operations, reducing the need to carry multiple versions of anilox rollers and enabling them to maintain a high level of consistency in their printed results. The GTT rollers, in particular, have helped Catapult achieve remarkable outcomes, especially in laying down white ink, which has been a game-changer in winning new customers.
One of the standout features of Apex’s GTT rollers is their ability to produce incredible results, especially when it comes to challenging printing tasks like laying down white ink. Cook shared a success story where Catapult won over a juice customer by delivering superior opacity and quality with GTT rollers.
“They didn’t believe we could do it, but we matched their quality thanks to the C25 GTT, and we won them over,” says Cook.
Catapult’s success doesn’t just come from innovation and partnerships—it’s also about maintaining strict control over quality. Every new roller that Catapult receives goes through a rigorous testing process before it’s allowed into production, and the company fingerprints its presses monthly to ensure everything remains within specification.
“We're very methodical in how we control our variables,” Cook explains. “We constantly assess how the presses are behaving, ensuring that the anilox rollers are laying down the correct amount of ink.”
This dedication to quality control has allowed Catapult to achieve unmatched consistency in print, which is critical to their business model and customer satisfaction.
"Our infrastructure is built around the GTT profile, and we’ve sold 3 billion labels this year to date without encountering an issue we couldn’t solve," Cook shared. "The support from Apex has been incredible, and the subscription model we’ve developed allows us to order new rollers flexibly as needed, which has been crucial as we continue to expand."
As Catapult continues to grow and innovate, the company remains confident that its partnership with Apex International will be a driving force in its ongoing success. The unique capabilities of the GTT 2.0 rollers, combined with Apex’s comprehensive support, have set Catapult on a path to continue disrupting the printing industry and setting new standards for quality and efficiency.