The press will be installed in the coming weeks, ahead of one of the six 12-colour long perfectors that made up Anton’s £8m order at last April’s Ipex.

Chief executive John Knight said: “We urgently need more capacity, so Heidelberg promised to
supply us with another 12-colour within a month.

“It is coming in ahead of the last of the 12-colours we ordered at Ipex, which is still scheduled for December.”

By the end of the year, the company will be running seven 12-colour SM 102s in a row and each of them will be equipped with Heidelberg reel sheeter CutStar.

Anton began its relocation to the new factory in Dunton, Essex, last October and had completed the move by January, taking on an additional 50 employees, which took the total workforce to 350.

Knight added: “The move to Dunton, the better physical workflows, the best equipment and committed staff are all combining to help us grow and develop.

“The investment we are making is good for us and good for our customers.”

The firm uses Tharstern MIS and operates closed loop colour control running to ISO 12647 standards.  

According to the company, the presses’ Preset Plus feeder and delivery, as well as the CutStar sheeters, have been key contributors to its growth.

Anton’s five existing 12-colour SM 102-12Ps are currently outputting around 6.4m sheets a week.
Knight said: “We have considered alternatives to Heidelberg, but we always  return because we like our evolving customer/supplier relationship.”

He added: “We are immensely impressed by the level of research and development, and also the investment, that Heidelberg continues to put in to improving press efficiency and environmental matters.”

Anton Group, which was formed in 2000, has a £40m turnover and serves the telecoms and utilities sectors.