Offset Printing
Westdale adds to its XL 105 line up and makes Inpress Control debut
Tuesday 15. June 2010 - The company which took the worlds first 12-colour Speedmaster XL 105 has returned to Heidelberg for a new Speedmaster XL 105-10-P long perfector, its first press with Inpress Control. The Westdale Press will take delivery of the XL 105-10-P in August, replacing an older SM 102 12-colour.
“Im old school twiddle this, twiddle that for fine quality colour but there is going to be a lot less twiddling in future and more printing by numbers to ISO 12647 standard. We have to change but I know that intelligence and eye will still count to some degree in printing in the future.
“We believe that on standard work the makeadies on the new XL 105 with Inpress Control automated colour control will be about 25% faster and start up waste even less than on the first XL 105 with Image Control. Each XL 105 press has the potential to run 60 million impressions per annum,” says Alan Padbury, managing director of the Cardiff company.
Westdale Press has found that its mix of work means that a ten-colour is the right configuration. The fifth and tenth units will be used primarily for seals and work that requires both Pantone special colours and a seal can run on the 12-colour.
The ten-colour will also handle quite a lot of boutique work, contracts where the client wants to visit and be involved in the colour rendition and to see the work off the press.
Both presses run with CutStar and for Westdale this is a real asset enabling it to handle a very broad range of paper weights but also to have flexibility, to work across web and sheet-fed technology when required.
Mr Padbury and deputy managing director Dean Pike were both involved in the buying decision. The operators views were taken into consideration but they had agreed that they would go with any decision made on press technology, knowing that the management would go for the best choice.
There was an extensive review of shortlisted suppliers and their press technology. So why did Heidelberg win? “It is a top press but also their service is good, their people are fantastic. The skill level within Heidelberg is the best. They have a good network of first rate people who respond quickly and are a class above the others,” says Mr Padbury.
“Having two replica machines makes it easy to switch work between the two and now we are working to a common plate size again. The operators are supportive of the decision and our customers like the fact we are investing and updating. It is vital to have the right equipment to remain in the game in this challenging market. We have increased turnover by £2m during this recession and would like to develop our web potential next. “
The Cardiff company provides web and sheetfed printing, producing a huge range of material (Report and Accounts, covers, journals, multi-section catalogues, books and promotional material) for a broad range of customers including Toast, Redwood Publishing, Fabbri, Hachette, Filipacchi and Open University. The group comprises three companies: The Westdale Press; Double Six Press; and East Moors Bindery.