Buxton switches to Heidelberg for fresh press spend

The Derbyshire magazine printer is currently an all-KBA house, with six long perfectors, making the deal a major coup for Heidelberg in the high-end B1 market.

Chairman Bernard Galloway said Buxton had tasked a team of four, headed by managing director Kirk Galloway, with investigating the latest press technology from five press manufacturers.

"Each did his own scorecard and those were used by the management team when it came to making the decision. The best buy was very strongly in favour of Heidelberg."

Heidelberg chairman and chief executive Bernhard Schreier met with the Buxton team at the exhibition. He said: "It is always good when a customer from a competitor switches to Heidelberg. Buxton buying two of these big presses is a big event for us and also for the customer."

Heidelberg UK sales director Jim Todd added: "We’ve been working on this for 22 years and are absolutely delighted to convert one of, if not the biggest, KBA long perfector house in Europe."

The two XL 106s, both eight-colour perfectors with CutStar reel sheeters, Inpress Control and fully automated simultaneous plate changing, form part of a four-year rolling re-equipment plan whereby Buxton expects to spend £20m re-equipping the company in order to achieve ambitious expansion plans. The re-equipping has grown in scope since it was originally announced last year.

 "The ultimate goal is to move from £18m turnover to £30m, and it will be done in stages," Bernard Galloway said.

"We aim to maximise every piece of equipment we’ve got, and that includes the building. Every square metre costs, and we want to get maximum velocity going through the factory.

"We are one of the few printers who identify themselves as quality AND commodity printers," Galloway added.

The first press will be installed in July, replacing one of the oldest KBAs at the factory.

A team of four from Buxton, including print managers Steve Carr and Jason Homer, were spending three days at Drupa scoping out other potential investments, including the latest inkjet technology.