The four-staff outfit, based in Droitwich, Worcestershire, purchased the machine along with a Xerox Professional Finisher bookletmaker for around £26,000. Both were installed last month ago.
Versatility owner David Chill said he was split between Xerox and a machine from a rival manufacturer.
“We felt the Xerox won out for two reasons,” said Chill.
“Reason one is that we do a lot of hot foil printing and specialise in small quantities and the toner throughout the Versant 80 was exciting for doing sublimation or laser toner foiling.
“Secondly it was the good service that we got from the guys at supplier Zerographic Systems. We dealt with them many years ago and felt we came back to them because they were going to give us such a good service.”
Launched in 2015 as a “strategic replacement” for the C75 and J75 models, the Versant runs at 80ppm and can maintain speeds on all stocks up to 350gsm, delivering image quality of 2,400dpi. It can handle a variety of media types with a compact Belt Fuser system and Xerox’s low-melt (EA) toner.
Chill especially liked its ability to take up to 350gsm board, which has already allowed Versatility to take on jobs using GF Smith’s embossed Colorplan papers for wedding invitations. He also liked its ability to print duplex, adding that it is “pinpoint accurate”.
“Production will without a doubt increase because of the speed of the machine. It’s faster than our old one,” added Chill.
“We’re getting more accurate colour representation and this ability to pinpoint and then to finish by foiling or some of the other special processes in-house for these small quantities makes it cost effective."
Formerly the head of Foilink, the National Foil Printers Club, Chill has recently diversified Versatility’s offering and launched Hot Foil UK Supplies, supplying trade and small printers with hot foiling machines and services. Chill also hired an extra member of staff to work primarily on Hot Foil UK.
In its post-press department, £165,000-turnover Versatility runs three Koba hot foiling machines and a range of finishing equipment.
