Fidelity Design & Print is commissioning what is arguably the first Xerox Versant 280 in the UK, having taken delivery of the new press over the Christmas break.
The Bedford business is replacing two machines with the press, only launched at the end of last year. The company has been using a six-year-old Versant 2100 and an even older 770. “We used this because it has a scanning head,” says Louise Hodge, owner of the business with husband Simon.
“We wanted the long sheet capability and have also taken the Adaptive package to be able to offer clear white, gold and silver print. We will be able to offer far more services in house, reducing the need to send work out.” It will also enable the company to offer a less expensive alternative to conventional foiling it has in-house.
The press received a spectacular online launch along with the Versant 4100 and the upgraded version of the Baltoro cutsheet inkjet press. It has been supplied to Fidelity by First Copy, Cambridge who also provided an Ideal 7260 guillotine.
This replaces an EBA machine supplied when Fidelity started printing 15 years ago. “We needed a bigger machine to cope with the long sheet we can now print,” says Hodge. It plans to hand finish any booklets or brochures that need the larger sheet.
Last year the company started a wedding stationery website, though the pandemic has acted as a brake on this venture. The ability to print white, clear and metallics for invitations and other items of wedding stationery, with a focus on reasonable pricing and the extra impact the additional colours can provide.
“We went down to Xerox in Uxbridge to look at the Iridesse, but it was a bit rich for us, so when Xerox announced they were instigating a smaller machine, we decided this was the time to invest,” she explains.
Fidelity plans to add samples to its Printspiration area in the front of its factory building. The company has grown through word of mouth and a customer care focus where the samples are used to explain what is possible to customers who lack the knowledge to make informed choices.
“One customer had gone to the company supplying its signs for business cards. What came back was really flimsy and the customer was very disappointed. We supplied him with 400gsm versions instead.
“There are not a lot of printers like us in this area who are well equipped with technology and can help and advise customers, producing almost everything ourselves.”
Along with the machinery First Copy is providing training on the new press and on the resources for the Adaptive CMYK+ package.
