Technique Print Group has installed a Versafire EP sheetfed toner press to replace a Konica Minolta model that marked its debut in digital printing. The investment comes six months after a Polar N78 Plus guillotine was delivered by Heidelberg to Technique’s Banbury plant to support both litho and digital production.
‘We have two reasons for switching our digital printing to Heidelberg and the Versafire,’ said Karl Smith, joint owner of Technique. ‘The first is that we needed to create more capacity and when we investigated the market we were impressed that we could do that and add to what we can print digitally because the Versafire can handle heavier weight boards, up to 450gsm, and larger sheets sizes so that 6pp A4 or 4pp landscape work can be handled.
‘Secondly, the switch made financial sense as we anticipated clicks rising from 100,000 a month to 130,000 – 150,000 a month over the next year. In fact, in its first month the Versafire has hit 150,000 clicks. The click rate cost saving over this volume will fund the investment making this purchase a no brainer.’
Some work has switched from litho, balancing production and giving more flexibility in scheduling across the print works. This is in part because heavier stocks are now possible in the digital area but also because the quality of digital is a much closer match, and in some cases surpasses, the litho standard.
‘The Versafire is already attracting new business,’ Mr Smith continued. ‘One customer has already been attracted by our ability to produce 6pp A4 leaflets which they want personalised. We are also in a position to handle work that previously we have turned away, particularly short run board work.’
