The 12-colour press is the latest in a long line of B1 perfector presses for the Essex-based company, but the first to come specified with Autoplate XL multiple plate changing.

When it arrives later this year, the perfector machine is expected to halve the makeready times of its existing XL machine, handling direct mail pieces and high-quality brochures.

Gary Knight, print production manager at Anton Group, said: "On our original 102 presses, makeready took 45 minutes. We halved that with the XL machine, but expect to be able to halve that again with Autoplate XL.

"This investment shows we're still going forward and still expanding. It will allow us to do more work, more quickly."

In addition to the Speedmaster, Anton has installed its fourth Polar Flowline guillotine, an XL 137, complete with full materials handling and Autoload, which will help the print cope with the additional capacity by upping the amount of sheets it can process.

"Where we were handling three pallets or 30,000sph with our previous Flowlines, we are attaining five pallets or 50,000sph with this more automated model," said Michelle Knight, bindery manager at Anton.

Anton Group is based at a 14,865sqm site in Essex. It employs 340 staff and is expecting a turnover of £43m this year.

Also see:
Anton Group builds for future at Drupa with £20m investment

Anton Group buys seventh long perfector