The machine, which was installed at the Crumlin, Gwent-based firm’s 3,250sqm premises in November, was bought from UK & Ireland MBO agent Friedheim International for £65,000.
It has joined an existing MBO device, which the company has operated for 15 years, and other machinery including Heidelberg and Komori litho presses, Xerox digital printers, Screen, Mimaki and Epson wide-format machinery, Thieme and Svecia screen-printing equipment and a wide range of finishing kit.
Garth Davis, who became group managing director of family-run Lexon Group on 1 November, said: “We already have an existing MBO folder, which has proved itself very reliable, so it made commercial sense to think about purchasing a second one when the need became apparent.
“It’s released a lot of our bottlenecks and allowed us to turn jobs around in a much shorter timeframe for our clients. It is proving just as reliable as our existing MBO, and that is what we had hoped for.”
The firm looked at alternatives including Horizon machinery but decided to stick with MBO due to its previous experience of the manufacturer’s kit and the robustness of the device.
Davis said: “One of the other reasons we stayed with MBO is due to the support we have always received from Friedheim International. When working 24 hours a day, it is reassuring to know that if a problem does occur, they are there to help out.”
Davis has taken over the reins of group managing director from his father Malcolm Davis, who has retired. Previously group operations director, he has been with the company for his entire working life and works closely alongside his brother Benn Davis, group sales director.
“Our strategy moving forward is more targeted growth with our clients to personalise service more,” said group managing director Davis.
“We’ve also got quite a big digital department for large-format POS work and that’s the area where our key investment will be, definitely over the next 12 months.”
Davis added the business is likely to invest in more new machinery at Fespa Digital in Amsterdam in March.
Lexon Group, which was formed in 1970, has 67 staff and a turnover of more than £5m.
It serves clients including print management companies and blue-chip clients and specialises in producing highly finished technical and ‘niche’ products including pop-up mailers and other types of presentation merchandise, as well as paper and board laminating.
