McLays boosts press firepower with Speedmaster XL 106 spend

Cardiff-based printer McLays has ordered a new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 as it looks to cut turnaround times and boost efficiency.

The £16m-turnover company signed for the XL 106 press, which was launched at Drupa 2012, during its visit to the Düsseldorf show earlier this month.

The new machine, McLays second B1 XL press will replace an older CD 102 and, according to the print firm, will boost productivity by around 40%.

Richard Kyte, manufacturing manager at McLays, said: "Our Speedmaster XL 105-6+L has clocked up 350m impressions in six years and is still outputting top quality results.

"This press exceeded all expectations in terms of productivity; it is a beast of a machine."

McLays' latest investment, a five-colour with coater, will arrive specified with Inpress Control automated colour and register adjustment.

Kyte added: "The Image Control on the first press reduced makeready times by 50%; we believe Inpress Control will cut a further 20% off the set up and reduce waste."

In addition to the XL 106, the company has ordered a reverse osmosis system from Technotrans, which is designed to remove the variables in the water for the fount and ink pumping system that will supply both XL presses.

The Speedmaster investment comes on-the-back of the installation of a Heidelberg Stahlfolder TH 56 in January.