Route 1 Print hosted a two-day customer open house for its trade printing customers at the group’s South Yorkshire supersite today and yesterday, while on Tuesday (4 February) Landa Digital Printing brought nearly 100 guests to see the Landa S10P in action with printers from the UK, mainland Europe and the US in attendance.
Landa founder Benny Landa also jetted in to meet with attendees.
Bluetree Group managing director Adam Carnell explained the rationale behind the firm’s purchases: “Every time we invest in equipment the main cornerstone is the quality it can produce and improving our service offering, in terms of turnaround times and a great range of products.”
He described the Landa S10P as “an evolution of our production platform and delivering on our key objectives.”
The four-colour, 6,500sph S10P is the first Landa press in the UK. It is installed alongside Bluetree’s bank of litho presses, adjacent to a Speedmaster XL106. The Landa is currently running extended day shifts, producing “mid-run flat-fold work”, explained head of production development Lewis Rogal.
The press has also been fitted with a swan-neck delivery. Typical run lengths are between 250-500.
He said that he expected the S10P to be fully in use as part of the total available print capacity at the factory from September. An experienced litho printer and a digital printing specialist have been trained on the press.
The business organises its manufacturing processes in ‘cells’ around different product types, with printing, finishing and packing grouped together.
Sales at Bluetree Group increased by 31% to £41.5m last year, and Carnell said £50m turnover was the next goal. The business employs more than 400 staff.
It moved to a 9,300sqm unit in Wath upon Dearne in 2015 and bought the adjacent 3,720sqm unit last year.
“We bought Unit B as part of our growth plan and we’re going to connect the two buildings to create one big facility,” explained James Kinsella, who co-founded Instantprint with Carnell in 2009.
The group has earmarked a £3m budget for the site expansion and improvement. New product offerings are also in development.
The firm’s brand new MGI Jetvarnish 3D Evo 75 B1 embellishment press is now installed and is in the process of being commissioned. It is located next to the ‘business card cell’ which includes a Fujifilm Jet Press 720S B2 inkjet press, Autobond laminator and Rollem cutting system.
Head of Route 1 Print Mark Young told the assembled customers that the business was “committed to offering everything you need to develop your business”.
“Our factory is your factory and we are your silent print partner, helping you to grow your business,” he said.
