Solopress has added a third large format Agfa inkjet press to the lineup in its Southend on Sea factory. Installation of the Oberon RTR 3200 follows less than nine months after the online trade printer installed a ten-colour Speedmaster XL106.
The additional press will boost capacity for banners in particular for the online race printer. The Oberon is roll to roll printer printing on a single roll 3.2 metre wide or on two 1.6 metre wide rolls. LED UV means the ink is dry ready for processing immediately.
And to ensure there are no bottlenecks in this are, the company has bought a second Fotoba XLS 320HS trimming cutter. As well as the Fotobas, Solopress runs a Konsberg cutting table.
Large format print already accounts for around 15% of sales, necessitating an investment in two hybrid Agfa printers to replace Jetrix machines. These have proved excellent machines says the company, providing the confidence to return to Agfa for the latest investment.
The company has operated two 2.5 metre wide Anapurna hybrid presses for solid materials was well as flexible substrates from the roll. The new machine will be more efficient at banner printing and will take on the bulk of this work, freeing the Anapurnas to do other work and to handle new products.
Head of operations Jack Clifford says: “We’re further expanding our capacity to deliver fast turnaround, high quality, large format print. In conjunction with the additional Fotoba cutter, the investment has made effective improvements to the efficiency and sustainability of our large format production. The versatility of the new set-up will also allow for more diverse and cost effective product options in the future.”
The company produces a wide range of pop up, pop out and other banners, flags, exhibition stands and fabric displays. It uses an HP PageWide 8000XL to print posters.
