Buxton Press kicks off investment spree with 1m finishing spend

Buxton Press has undertaken the first stage of an 11m capital equipment programme after signing for a 1m-plus finishing package with Friedheim International.

The Derbyshire based sheetfed magazine printer has selected Friedheim to supply, install and commission a raft of new equipment by late summer.

This will comprise two fully automatic K800 MBO folders with the scope to install a further two, a 15-station Wohlenberg City 6000e perfect binding-line complete with three-knife trimmer and stacker and an updated guillotine suite.

Kirk Galloway, managing director at Buxton Press, said: "While we've been delighted with the support of our current suppliers, we feel Friedheim has the edge to accommodate all our immediate business requirements and we are looking forward to working with the firm on this project.

"This generation of new equipment offers significant improvements in productivity that will assist in reducing our operating cost base in the aggressively competitive sector of magazine printing."

Buxton's finishing investment programme precedes an extensive presshall upgrade that will include six new long perfectors with reel sheeters.

The company will replace one new press every year from 2012 to 2018 in a move that will allow it to compete at the lower end of the web market.

"Despite very difficult trading conditions, Buxton has benefited from two back-to-back record-breaking years and this latest investment perhaps heralds an early green shoot of returning confidence in a substantially restructured UK magazine print market," added Galloway.