Expert Print overhauls press room with £1m kit spend

Commercial printer Expert Print has invested around £1m in a raft of new equipment to increase its capacity and boost its service portfolio.

The Doncaster-based firm has taken delivery of the new kit, which includes a secondhand five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102, a Horizon perfect binder and folder, a Foliant laminator, a Polar 137 guillotine, a five-colour Speedmaster 52 and a Muller Martini Bravo S, over the past few months. It is also due to install a Tharstern MIS next week.

Managing director Barry Pearson said: “We’ve doubled the amount of work we do but we’re still running 24/7. We’re currently running the CD 102 at 15,000sph flat out on almost every job.

The 2006 B1 Speedmaster CD 102, which was bought from Leeds-based print equipment reseller White Horse Machinery, has replaced a Speedmaster XL 75, which the firm sold on to White Horse.

The Polar 137, the Muller Martini Bravo S and the Speedmaster 52 were also bought from White Horse while the Horizon and Foliant machines were supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems.

The firm also operates Horizon, Stahl and Wohlenberg folding machines and is looking to invest in an additional folder and a four-clamp perfect binder later this year. It is also planning to build another 372sqm extension onto its current 1,115sqm premises.

Expert Print has 22 staff and is forecasting a turnover of around £3.8m to £4m for this financial year, up from £2.2m last year.

The firm produces items including brochures, magazines, POS, letterheads, leaflets, flyers and business stationery for customers including end-users, print management companies, motor dealers and football clubs.