Tall Security Print in £500k litho, digital and finishing spend

Tall Security Print, part of the Tall Group of Companies, has invested £500,000 in new litho, digital and finishing equipment, including a new 500mm web press from Spanish manufacturer Imer.

The Runcorn-based business will take delivery of an Imer I-115-BF five-colour web press with UV drying at the beginning of April, completing a £500,000 reequip that started before Christmas.

Tall Group managing sales and marketing director Peter Andrew said that the Imer would replace an older press from the same manufacturer and run alongside two other 500mm Imer webs, a three-colour and a six-colour.

He added that the new press was the company's first to be specified with UV drying and rewind function, which will enable Tall Security Print to take the printed reel off the rewinder and reinsert it to add additional colours if needed.

"We're seeing more opportunities for additional colours on work particularly for the export market, so that's something we need to be able to cater for," said Andrew.

Also included in the spend was an AMS X-Jet mono inkjet printer, which can be fitted inline with any of the Imer presses to print variable data at speeds of up to the 180m/min running speed of the press.

This will allow the company to add in-line numbering, barcodes and addresses and can also be used to print security features with invisible ink. The AMS system was installed in November, together with a Xerox Versant 2100 and two continuous guillotines from Spedo UK.

Tall Group managing director Martin Ruda said: "It is absolutely crucial for Tall Security Print to secure its position as the UK market leader by continuing to develop its wide range of world class services, for both new and existing clients.

"Through the acquisition of the Xerox Versant, the company is now able to supplement its portfolio by offering high-quality variable data products. This substantial investment programme will play a key role in our future plans for growth, at a time when we see new opportunities emerging at home and abroad."

Ruda added that Tall Security Print was finding a requirement for more commercial digital colour work from its corporate and financial institution customers, to complement their existing security print, which remains the company's core focus.

He added that the firm had no current spending plans beyond its recent reequip, which will allow the group to take advantage of growth opportunities both domestically and overseas, which currently contributes around 10% of annual sales.