S&G installs Speedmaster XL 105

Andrew Jones (l) with Heidelberg UK’s Jim Todd at the show

Stephens & George Print (S&G) has revealed at drupa that it has installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 in its Welsh factory.

The machine will replace the company’s nine-year-old Speedmaster SM 102-8P and complements its existing SM102 long perfector. S&G group managing director Andrew Jones said: "This press in 100% more productive that the SM 102 8P and 30% more productive than the SM 102. I’m here at drupa to enjoy the moment knowing we have made a momentus investment in Heidelberg’s latest, greatest long perfector."

The eight-colour machine has been configured with CutStar but is also equipped with Heidelberg’s productivity tool, Inpress Control, which measures the colour and enables the press to automatically self-correct on the run.

S&G achieved 3.6m sheets in the first month after installation and before Impress Control was added, Heidelberg said that once the press was bedded in, the press will strongly outpace the average 2.5m sheets a month typical of the SM 102.

Jones added: "With this press, operators have to set it up and then it runs itself. There is no stopping. In demonstration on an XL long perfector without CutStar, we saw a colour job get into register in about 179 sheets, about 100 less that we have been used to."

S&G has also replaced two MBO folders with two new Stahlfolder TH 82s, meaning that eight out of nine of its folders are now Heidelberg machines. S&G said it was particularly excited about the Stahl’s pallet feeding capability.