Longridge overhauls press and pre-press kit with Heidelberg package

Longridge Print is hoping to do "a lot more work for a lot more people" after revamping its press and pre-press operation with an investment package from Heidelberg.

The Crowborough, East-Sussex-based commercial printer has taken delivery of a five-colour Speedmaster SM 74-5 with coater, a Suprasetter 75 CTP, PrintReady workflow and a Prinance JDF-enabled MIS system.

Longridge managing director Neil Long said: "It's a huge overhaul. We started out looking for a new CTP device to replace the Purup system, which was no longer made.

"We were looking at Agfa and Fuji but approached Heidelberg and asked if they would like to quote and whether there was an opportunity to create a package."

The new equipment replaces a Roland 300 press, a Heidelberg Speedmaster 52, the Purup CTP system, a Fuji workflow and an Accura MIS system.

Long said the decision to opt for equipment from a sole manufacturer came from the support it received from its recent digital investment with Canon.

"I can see the support available by teaming it with one manufacturer. Having both litho and digital offers us complementary technologies to handle short and longer runs," he added.

The £2m-turnover company also anticipates the JDF-enabled MIS will benefit the printer's pressroom setup with the new coater helping it to cut production time.

Long said: "With AxisControl spectrophotometry and pre-press, to press closed-loop colour, we will have a level of control we haven't had before.

"The idea of the package is that we can link it all up digitally to optimise production and management efficiency."

The 25-staff business prints a range of work, including brochures, leaflets and stationery products.

By: Tim Sheahan, printweek.com, 05 May 2009