Push Print expands services with Fujifilm Jet Press

London's Push Print is adding high-end digital production to its range of services with the purchase of a Fujifilm Jet Press 720S, the firm's first digital press.

The B2 inkjet device will be installed at Push Print's Southwark premises next month, and joins the firm's existing five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CD102-X.  

Push specialises in high-quality work for a range of clients in the creative community including designers, galleries and artists and is a multi-PrintWeek Award winner.  

Speaking about the decision to invest in a digital press, Push director Roy Killen said the business produced work of the "highest quality and strongest production values" and, in the Jet Press, had "now found the press that can deliver what we need".  

The firm has seen increasing demand from clients for shorter runs, and is planning to run a series of workshops to introduce customers to the new technology and what it can do.  

It decided on the Jet Press after an extensive evaluation process.  

Fujifilm business development manager for digital solutions Dave Cull initially made contact with Push after noticing the firm's winning portfolio of work at the PrintWeek Awards. "I popped in to see them to introduce myself and the Jet Press, and to show them some print samples. I really thought the Jet Press had potential for Push," Cull said.  

The Push team went on to run some test jobs during Fujifilm's Bedford open house last year, and then returned to carry out further detailed tests on specific papers before deciding on the investment.  

Push director Danny Kirk said: "Colour excellence is a big thing for us and the controllability of the Jet Press is very good. It also has great registration and colour consistency, which are key factors, and gives us flexibility in terms of substrates – you don't lose the quality or feel of the paper." 

The Jet Press 720S runs at 2,700sph and prints at 1,200dpi. It has a wider colour gamut than conventional litho and can produce extremely smooth flat and graduated tints. Job-to-job changeover takes just a couple of seconds. The list price of the press is around £1m.  

Cull praised the work of Fujifilm's solutions team in sealing the deal. He added: "To meet all the challenges that Push Print had set and tick all the boxes for a company that hadn't gone digital before is a massive statement about what the Jet Press can do. Push Print is really at the pinnacle of high-end print and in the heart of the design community in London." 

Push Print employs 17 staff and has turnover of around £4m. Its Jet Press will be the fifth to be installed in the UK, and the first to be located in the south of England.