The machine from Apex Digital Graphics arrived this week and will replace a Heidelberg SM74-6. It formed part of a £700,000 spend.
“This latest investment is in line with a Cron 36 UV platesetter with G&J processor, again supplied by Apex, and installed six weeks ago.” said partner Steve Loasby.
“Just over £500,000 went on the press. Updating equipment has been in the pipeline for the past two years during which time we have been busy increasing sales and streamlining the business.
“Bartham Group has increased turnover from £1.5m to £1.7m and it is hoped the acquisition of the new machinery will help us increase turnover to close to £2m.”
Loasby said he had led the expansion drive with managing director Raj Koyes, sales and press manager Richard Hamilton, finishing manager Paul Kirton and group accounts manager Donna Dwyer.
Bartham's first purchase of an SRA3 automated cutting machine in August 2015 was followed four months later with a Heidelberg CH56 fully automated folding machine capable of folding up to 40,000 sheets per hour.
“Me and my business partner Shahed Koyes knew that in order to continue to thrive we would need to invest in new technology in all areas, pre-press, press and finishing.”
Of the new press, he said: “After many months of research, looking at various presses and demonstrations we decided to purchase a machine with LED drying and CIP4 technology.
“It requires no spray powder therefore the sheets are perfectly flat, which speeds up the folding process.
“There is no need for a sealer, they are cheaper to run and save on electricity and can run at speeds up to 16,000 per hour. The CIP4 technology reduces makeready times considerably.”
He said the only issue was the cost of the special UV inks but Gareth Wheeldon of Toyo Ink Arets had explained that though more expensive, less ink was used.
“We considered both old and new presses but it kept coming back to the Ryobi because of its newer technology, LED-UV drying and competitive pricing," Loasby added.
“A few eyebrows were raised when I put forward the proposal - Ryobi are not regarded as market leaders – but where were Lidl and Aldi a few years ago?”
Bartham Group, which has 20 staff, now has the ability to print on 70gsm NCR in five colour to 600 micron synthetic material, which dries instantly.
