The Beeston, Leeds-based business bought the machine to increase the quality and sustainability of its work, which includes direct mail and critical communications, and because its clients were seeking a provider for short-run full-colour campaigns.
MAMS specialises in the paper wrapping of subscription magazine mailings and one element of this investment is to help tackle current environmental issues by replacing polywrapping with fully recyclable and biodegradable paper.
Due for delivery to the firm’s 5,900sqm site at the end of this month, the Ricoh machine is the latest part of a £6m-£7m spend over the past 12 months that has also included three bespoke paper wrapping machines from CMC. The new printer will enable MAMS to personalise paper wraps to the recipient.
The Pro VC70000 has a unique drying system, which means moisture is evaporated quickly within the device, allowing high-resolution printing at 150m/min onto a broader media range than ever before, including offset-coated papers, uncoated, inkjet-treated and inkjet-coated papers. The colour gamut is also extended by this process.
While MAMS also looked at a range of alternatives, director Anthony Krajniewski said the Pro VC70000 – which is additional to the company’s existing portfolio – was the best fit for its requirements.
He told Printweek: “In my opinion, this is the only machine available in the UK that can print on offset stocks in a good commercial way. It’s really strong; the colour on it and the fact that the ink dries and you don’t get moisture in the paper. I think the print quality is as close to litho that inkjet will get.
“It ticks all the boxes for our needs and Ricoh have supported us recently on some smaller investments in mono devices. This machine and the company itself both impressed me, so this was the next logical step.”
He added: “We anticipate by taking this machine on that it’s going to add a 30%-40% increase in our turnover. Clients are already knocking on the door and have pushed us down this direction, rather than it being ‘invest and sell’.
“There seems to be a need to do small runs, which suits itself to digital continuous rather than going down the traditional litho continuous lines. If you’re doing a couple of hundred thousand items across 170 versions, it’s the only solution to do that type of work.”
Turning over £21m and employing 80 permanent staff, MAMS also operates Heidelberg B1 litho technology plus a raft of enclosers, folders and personalisation lines for direct mail and an array of finishing kit.
