The Hereford-based commercial printer bought the machine, which will be installed at the start of next year, to benefit from its instant drying, low energy and environmental benefits as well as cost savings on consumables.
ABC Print Group managing director Mike Greene said: “Myself and my co-director were immediately attracted to the technology when we saw it at Ipex earlier this year. Putting ink on paper correctly is relatively easy in this day and age, but drying is a different issue.”
“The move to the SRA1 format made all kinds of sense to us. It means that we can print eight A4 pages to view, and with the LED-UV added, have a dry-to-the-touch sheet out of the back of the press.
“The productivity gains of the configuration will be huge to our business and the savings on both maintenance and cleaning by not having to use spray powder are also important. We believe that the press will allow us to offer something special to our customers.”
The four-colour machine will replace a 10-colour B3 press and is capable of handling stocks ranging from 0.04mm to 0.6mm card stock.
ABC Print Group has had a previous relationship with Apex having bought a DPX polyester-based platesetter from the company as well as consumables over the past five years.
The firm has 28 staff and operates a range of B3 litho presses as well as large-format, digital and finishing equipment at its 1,300sqm premises.
It produces items including annual reports, brochures, stationery, consumer packaging, direct mail, exhibition media, leaflets and folders for customers across a wide range of sectors.
Apex sales and marketing director Neil Handforth said: “We are delighted to have secured an order for the UK’s first LED-UV unit, as well as another 920 series press. Ryobi’s LED-UV unit takes drying technology to a new level with its ability to aid the process on just about any stock, and with significant savings on running costs compared to any other fast drying technique.”
Apex is showing the Ryobi LED-UV system in conjunction with a Ryobi 755G press at Print Efficiently. The system was first unveiled by Ryobi at Drupa in 2008 but developments in ink technology, with LED-UV ink now available from a number of major ink suppliers, have strengthened the UK demand for LED-UV technology.
Print Efficiently, which has attracted pre-registrations from around 150 companies, is also playing host to three Horizon product launches from event partner Intelligent Finishing Systems.
Other companies exhibiting at the event, which is taking place at Apex’s Hemel Hempstead showroom today (8 October) and tomorrow (9 October), before returning for a second week on 21-23 October, include Shuttleworth, KAS Paper Systems, Renz, Colourbyte, Konica Minolta, Foliant, Petratto, Perfecta, Mitsubishi, VPress, PDC and Meler.
