Spingold supports demand with Konica Minolta install

Oakes (L, with Hynard): "It’s great to be busy"
Oakes (L, with Hynard): "It’s great to be busy"

Spingold Design & Print has installed a Konica Minolta AccurioPress C14000 to support increasing demand from online orders, especially for its niche bespoke playing and gaming cards.

Supplied by ASL Group and installed at the Nayland, Suffolk-based company’s 557sqm premises in June, the 140ppm cutsheet toner machine includes a long sheet capability, and three high-capacity vacuum feed stacking trays that can duplex 900mm.

“Along with the impressive input capacity and assured output quality, the speed was the big difference, as it had the potential to double our capacity,” said Spingold managing director Ed Oakes.

ASL Group and Konica Minolta are providing support including the provision of parts and consumables onsite, to ensure constant availability for servicing and any unexpected needs. Additionally, Konica Minolta will shortly be delivering advanced operating training on the device for Spingold’s production manager Chris Hynard.

“The increased capacity and speed have been highly beneficial in helping us meet the demands of our customers,” said Oakes.

“Chris runs four printers and two laminators, so this increase in capacity means he now has more time to attend to all the machines, rather than having to manually supervise printing of large jobs.”

Other recent investments for Spingold have included a Xerox Versant 180, supplied by ASL Group a year ago, an Adpak shrinkwrapper, a B&R Moll Compact folder-gluer for small-format folding, a Duplo PFi Di-Cut 300 rotary die-cutter, and an Epson SureColor SC-P9500 photo printer.

Last September the business took on three people who had lost their jobs at other print companies due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Oakes added: “It’s great to be busy, to be able to employ new staff and to keep this talent in the industry. Print is undoubtedly changing; new markets are replacing traditional ones and it is essential to have the right tools and professional support in place as we all adapt.”

Spingold’s playing cards side is driven through its B2C site Print from your Sofa, while it also serves clients including garden centres.