Deltor installs UK’s first Komori Advance long perfector

Deltor MD Sam Shannon with the new Komori
Deltor MD Sam Shannon with the new Komori

Cornish commercial printer Deltor Communications has installed the UK’s first long perfecting B1 Komori Lithrone G840 Advance.

Deltor added the long perfector to its lineup at the start of August after finishing a three-month bedding in period.

The eight-colour press represents an investment of around £2m for Deltor, which has 35 employees at its Saltash site in Cornwall.

Deltor chose the Komori, which replaced its 10-colour Roland 700, to help it minimise wastage and boost production speed. The press is configured with a Mabeg reel sheeter.

Managing director Sam Shannon said that every efficiency the company could make would help it reduce the costs it has to pass along to customers at a time of tightening margins.

“We felt that with the cost of materials, paper, plates and consumables, we needed to really look at ways to minimise our wastage,” he said.

“What we don’t want to be doing is putting waste in the bin, and then having to charge that out as makereadies or machine time, which ultimately impacts the price [for the customer].”

The press has Komori’s latest PQA hardware and software, which automatically brings the press to register and up to colour, and compares the printed sheet with the approved PDF. Environmental considerations were high on Deltor's priority list with the new machine, which runs alcohol free, and draws less power than the outgoing Roland, while running around four times the output.

Deltor likewise installed the G840 on a raised plinth to increase its capacity both in delivery and, when running sheets, in the feeder.

The installation went relatively smoothly for Deltor, according to Shannon, thanks to the firm’s history with Komori - the G840 advance being the company’s fifth Komori purchase - though the new inspection capabilities required some familiarisation.

Steve Turner, Komori UK’s managing director, said: “We have a number of the new Komori G40 Advance model presses installed in the UK with more on order. 

“The Deltor machine is the first UK installation of an Advance long perfector, which has new production features focused on high return on investment for our customers.”

He added: “We are thrilled Deltor chose to invest in Komori technology again.”