"This single KBA will replace two 56in Sovereigns," said managing dir-ector Ian Walker. The Glasgow-based firm's press a four-colour SW2 two-back-two perfector which can print 12,000sph straight, will be installed in the spring.
"Although the Crabtrees still produced good quality it was at slow speeds (5,000sph), whereas the KBA can perfect at 10,000sph," said Walker. "We are a short-run book and journal printer, so makeready time is critical to us."
The firm had looked at all the alternatives to the redesigned 142 launched at Drupa. But after seeing machines from rival suppliers in the UK and abroad, Walker found the KBA machine was "dominant".
The 6.5m-turnover firm is also in the process of what it describes as a "substantial investment" in integrated digital book and journal production kit from an unnamed supplier.
"As run-lengths drop customers look for firms that have litho and digital," said Walker. "The investment is driven by our customers, which is the best way."
Story by Darryl Danielli
