Visual opts for Versant 180

Digital and large-format printer Visual Print & Design has invested in a new Xerox Versant 180 digital press after experiencing rapid digital growth over the past year.

The Lincolnshire-based outfit spent around £45,000 on the Apogee-supplied machine, which was launched earlier this year, after experiencing an increase in quick-turnaround orders, and it is now aiming for an extra £100,000 sales per year. 

Joining Visual’s existing Xerox Color 770, the machine was installed last week. Managing director Graham Hunstone said that, among other benefits, it would allow the nine-staff outfit to bring six-page A4 work in-house. 

“It was really just to increase capacity, speed up production and just improve everything. It runs fast, the quality is a lot better and it does more than the current one,” said Hunstone. 

“We’re already filling it up; we’ve got the 770 and this one running side by side now so specific jobs on specific machines, but definitely this is going to be filled up within six to eight months and will hopefully allow us to add one or two members of staff to the production room as well.”

Running at speeds of 80ppm and taking sheets up to 350gsm with Xerox Performance Package configuration, which Visual has opted for, the machine takes a maximum sheet size of 330x660mm. 

Suitable for a wide range of media types, including coated and uncoated papers, labels, business cards, glossy brochures and window decals, Hunstone praised its inline spectrophotometer, which allows for increased colour automation. 

“If we’ve got colours to match, it really benefits us,” he added. 

“If it’s a new or an existing client we can utilise that to colour match previous jobs and also new jobs going forward and it stores it all for next time.”

Running a 2016-purchased Mutoh ValueJet 1324X along with a range of finishing equipment, the £1m-turnover former print management company moved into production in 2014 and acquired Derby-based Go Digital the following year, picking up two Konica Minolta digital presses and large-format machinery. It still outsources all litho work.