Installation will begin in November and commissioning is scheduled for next February. It is unclear whether Artisan will decommission any older presses or add pure capacity with the Sunday 4000.
The Artisan deal is Heidelberg’s first major commercial web order this year, with MAN Roland snapping up contracts with Pindar – for a 48pp Lithoman – and Polestar, which is in the process of installing a 64pp Lithoman at Watford.
TPL Printers in Kidderminster also runs a 48pp Sunday 4000, while Poole-based Southernprint has installed one and has an option on another.
Artisan will also install a Muller Martini Tempo saddlestitching line in October. Sections will be automatically stream-fed directly into shrinkwrapping facilities and automatic palletisation.
The firm went CTP in November 2000 with a CreoScitex Lotem XL and it also runs finishing and personalisation operations.
The latest press will come with a PCC-2 pinless combination folder and a Heidelberg Contiweb 130-1460 dryer with integrated ecocool.
Leicester and East Midlands GPMU branch officer Dave Roome said: "It’s excellent news that Artisan is investing, bearing in mind what’s going on with other big web printers."
A rival web printer described Artisan as an "enviably good company". The firm is ranked 44 in the PrintWeek Top 500 with sales of over £44m.
Managing director Stephen Denbigh was unavailable for further comment as PrintWeek went to press.
Story by Gordon Carson
