BUSINESS / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine 10 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk September / October 2024 - Issue 350 Solopress has announced it has made a £3.4m round of fresh investment in both litho and digital printing technologies. The strategic investment includes the acquisition of a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 4 litho press with coating unit; a HP Indigo 120K digital press; a Konica Minolta AccurioShine 3600 with iFoil One; a Horizon AFV-566FTK Ice Folder; and an MBO T800 section folder. Solopress says the “dual approach” will ensure the company can leverage the strengths of each method and provides its customers with the highest quality print solutions. The investment in a second B1 litho press also cements the company’s commitment to high-volume litho printing whilst the HP Indigo 120K provides the latest B2 digital print technology. Simon Cooper, managing director of Solopress, says: “We see a strong future for both lithographic and digital. The new Speedmaster allows us to continue delivering unparalleled litho print quality on large runs. Cooper explains that when planning this next round of investment, this year has proven to be “predicably unpredictable”, due to the general election. “We’d anticipated it landing at the end of the year so when it was sprung on us in June it put the cat amongst the pigeons,” he says, adding: “However, it’s a testament to the excellent team we’ve built up that we were able to meet record-breaking demand without dipping below a 99.3% despatch rate for the YTD. “We’re now getting ourselves set up for the next peak which will happen in Q4, where we expect to be firing on all cylinders.” Solopress makes £3.4m investment Solopress’ new HP Indigo 120K press provides the latest B2 digital print technology Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) has opened its new Client Engagement Centre (CEC) in Bedfordshire. The CEC provides a central location for product sales demonstrations, training, and events. Featuring a fully operational professional print shop, the centre houses a range of AccurioPress toner presses, the AccurioLabel press range, as well as B2+ inkjet and partner technologies for print, packaging, and embellishment. The facility also includes in-line trimming and finishing systems including the TU-510 trimmer unit, the SD-513, and Plockmatic SD-450 booklet makers. Label and packaging solutions include the AccurioLabel230 and 400 plus the PKG-1300 Digital Corrugated Press, as well as embellishment technology with the AccurioShine 3600 with iFoil One, the MGI JETvarnish Evo75, as well as off-line finishing options from Valiani, Morgana, and Colorcut. Konica Minolta opens new Client Engagement Centre Rob Ferris, chief executive officer of Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) at the new Centre By Carys Evans Nutshell Creative recently won gold for Buckinghamshire Business of the Year at the SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business Awards. Helping to foster young people’s futures, Nutshell has supported work experience programmes and is also part of the new industry group Young People in Print (YPIP) which works to bridge the gap between education and printing. Another initiative that utilises the power of print is the company’s literacy charity, Topic Heroes, an online writing platform enabling children to write their own books and have them professionally printed, completely free. Utilising Nutshell’s creative and technical expertise and connections within the printing industry, the first pilot sessions are taking place in schools in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Nutshell Creative wins local Business of the Year Award Supplier of high-quality self-adhesive paper and film products, UPM Raflatac, has acquired Grafityp, a manufacturer of films and laminates. According to UPM Raflatac, merging its existing graphics business with Grafityp will strengthen its overall competitive positioning in this segment. The move will also expand UPM Raflatac’s portfolio and provide access to high-value new technologies. With over 50 years of history as a developer and manufacturer of self-adhesive graphics solutions, Grafityp’s portfolio comprises colour films, print films for large-format colour printing, laminates, and wrapping films. A new business unit within UPM Raflatac since 2022 is UPM Graphics which is dedicated to self-adhesives. UPM Raflatac strives to grow this division through “organic and possibly inorganic” measures. UPM Raflatac has acquired Grafityp to expand its graphics offering [Inside three L to R] Lucy Swanston, managing director; Jenni Parks, head of events; and Victoria Blackwell, senior marketing executive of Nutshell Creative UPM Raflatac merges its graphics business with Grafityp Flint Group, a producer of ink and coating solutions, has relocated its newspaper ink production facility and service centre to Frankfurt, Germany. The new hub, chosen for its transport links, features state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment to further increase Flint’s production capabilities. Flint’s technology team will oversee ongoing innovation for its coldset inks designed for newspaper printing. According to Flint Group, this relocation is part of a wider €1.5m (£1.29m) investment in its capacity that has seen it optimise its production processes and strengthen its technical service team. Heiner Klokkers, chief executive officer of Flint Group Publications, says the transfer demonstrates a “clear commitment to meeting the needs of this sector.” Flint Group transfers newspaper ink production to Frankfurt Flint Group has relocated its newspaper ink production and service team to Frankfurt, Germany as part of wider investment in capacity Image: Dean Rossiter Photography
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