KMS Litho seeks digital expansion with Versafire CV

Print Solutions

KMS Litho has undertaken extensive research into digital options and this time come down in favour of the Heidelberg Versafire CV.

‘We needed a faster press and one that could provide a closer quality match to our Speedmaster litho presses,’ said Mark Willis, managing director and owner of KMS Litho.

‘The robustness of the Versafire is better suited to the traditional printer and we will be able to migrate some shorter run work from the offset to the digital area with this investment. Currently digital accounts for 15-20 per cent of our turnover but we can see this rising to about a third following this investment.’

The company has opted for a four unit specification as it does not have the market for the white, transparent or neon coatings. It is very excited about the potential of six page A4 format output for short run leaflets.

The larger format is commonly requested and this gives a price competitive option for the shorter runs. It will also use the duplex facility to run greetings cards and postcards on heavier stocks.

The location of KMS Litho on the edge of the Cotswolds generates work from the tourism and art sectors but it does also draw in work from nationwide. On mailings it quite frequently combines litho and digital technology, the former to print the main design and the latter for personalisation. It has two Speedmaster presses, a SM74-5 and a SM 52-2 and now two digital presses. It also offers wide format production.

‘The quality and the register on the Versafire means that the quality is now much closer to litho and most customers will not detect a difference,’ said Mark.