The Ipswich-based company installed the machine last month, returning to digital print after previously operating HP and Xerox equipment.

The investment marks the start of a drive at the 40-staff company to expand its digital offering and is looking to move into web-to-print in the coming months.

Philip Dodd, managing director at Healeys Print Group, said the machine would complement the company's existing Heidelberg litho offering, producing colour short-run jobs for a range of customers.

"Buying through Heidelberg made perfect sense because we know they will develop the technology further. They have a deep understanding of commercial printing and I am sure they will have an influence on what is produced by Ricoh in future," he said.

Healeys has also enjoyed a record month for sales and profit in September with revenues up 40% on averages sales for the month.

And when it came to investing in digital Dodd said that quality was paramount with output from the Ricoh machine "comparable" to the work produced on its litho presses.

"We have the Anicolor so the breakpoint between digital and litho is quite low here. We think about which technology to use at around 300 sheets. Sometimes a customer will specify litho or digital but mostly we assess case by case," he added.

The company's new Ricoh C 651EX can print up to 65ppm and can handle single-sided jobs up to 300gsm and 256gsm in duplex.

"It is used extensively for proofing, too, enabling us to show customers what the work will look like on the exact paper that we will use on press," said Dodd.

In August,  Healeys installed a fully automated Horizon all-buckle AFC566F folder following its move into B2 press production the previous year.



Tweet