The Color Company (Cheltenham) boosts finishing side with Stahlfolder and Muller buys

Magazine and commercial printer The Color Company (Cheltenham) has invested around £300,000 in a Heidelberg Stahlfolder BH 56 and a Muller Martini stitching line.

The devices, which will both replace Horizon systems, will be installed at the Cheltenham-based firm’s 836sqm premises over the next two months. The Stahlfolder will be installed next month while the Muller Martini will be delivered in April.

The company also operates two five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster presses, a B2-format SX 74 and a B3-format SM 52, and Xerox and Ricoh four-colour digital printers.

Managing director Ashley Wainwright said: “We like to be in the forefront of the latest technology and the purchase of this new equipment will afford us this opportunity. This investment will prevent bottlenecks and make us even more efficient.

“Staff will be trained and will quickly adapt to the new automation. Some customers require 24-hour turnround from start to finish and so we need reliable technology to meet that need.”

The Color Company has 12 staff and a projected turnover of £1.6m for the current financial year. The business offers a range of commercial print services including business cards, stationery, posters and catalogues to customers including end users, blue chip companies and local authorities.

The firm currently operates a shift system five days a week but frequently runs overtime at the weekends, particularly at month ends, mainly to accommodate magazine deadlines.