Long perfector arrives at Elanders Newcastle

Print Solutions

Elanders Newcastle has just taken delivery of a Speedmaster XL 106-8-P long perfector to handle long run print work for the educational, automotive and brands marketing sectors. To complement this high speed press it is also taking delivery of Heidelberg’s latest top performance Stahlfolder TH 82-P.

‘We like to run with new technology and this investment will give us a solid machine running faster and offering 60% greater output than the press it replaces. It means that our customers can benefit from our increased capacity and even more reliable service,’ said Chris Hewitt, managing director.

The press replaces an older Speedmaster SM 102-8-P so it has one pass productivity experience. It will be equipped with Autoplate Pro plate changing and Axis Control off press spectral measurement. These state of the art tools help to reduce make ready times and to monitor and improve control colour more effectively.

Elanders Newcastle hopes to fill the press with large extent (200 page ideally) 10,000 to 20,000 run A4 square back books but the press is very flexible in the work it can handle with a stock range of 0.03 to 0.8 mm thick.

The Elanders group uses Heidelberg equipment across a number of its sites so the Newcastle plant is following a consistent buying policy. It did look at all major manufacturers and attended new product launches before making its decision to buy the eight colour Speedmaster XL 106.

The folder was trialled at Heidelberg’s plant in Wiesloch, Germany, and it proved efficient over a wide range of stocks and jobs. Several 16 page sections were put through at speeds of 16,000 to 18,000 sheets per hour. This is supplementary capacity for the plant.

Elanders Group operates in 15 countries and in the UK has three sites with litho and digital print and finishing in Newcastle, print and packaging in Bellshill and logistics services in Stirchley.