Flexpress makes UK first investment

Trade printer, Flexpress, has ordered a RMGT 970PF-8 from MPL, the UK distributor for RMGT offset litho presses based in Surrey.

The investment has been cited as the first of its kind for mainland UK, due to the new SimulChange automatic plate changing system which is incorporated into the system.

The press includes an eight-colour system which incorporates LED-UV drying and camera-based quality control equipment. As part of the SimulChange system, the press can remove and load eight plates in 65 seconds, on top of a variety of other new technical features including a print and PDF comparison tool.

Chairman of Flexpress, Steve Wenlock, calls the purchase the company’s “biggest ever investment” ands a major upgrade to operations.

Wenlock says: “This printing press brings unsurpassed levels of automation to lithographic printing, with lightning-fast make-ready times, sophisticated quality checking on the run, as well as the capability to print the equivalent of 240,000 A4 pages-per-hour cost-effectively.”

Wenlock says that the installation won’t come to Flexpress’ Leicester site until September, but admits he is happy to be given the extra preparation time. “I think it's fair to say that this demonstrates Flexpress' long-term commitment to delivering top quality products and outstanding value in an ever-competitive market,” adds Wenlock.

Commenting on the order, MPL joint managing director, Mark Stribley, says: “Many thanks and congratulations to Steve Wenlock and the Flexpress team for their order – the biggest investment ever by the company.

“As mentioned by Steve, the sum of 240,000 x A4 pages-per-hour illustrates the gap between litho and digital in terms of productivity. Our mantra still holds good: a print shop needs both digital and litho to be both efficient and effective.”

MPL is a subsidiary of M Partners specialising in RMGT offset printing presses, GUK folding and inserting products, as well as Rotatek flexographic based products.