The five-colour press, with a sheet size of 2.05x1.51m, will be delivered to the Docklands-based firm at the end of the year. An option on a second press, to be delivered in the first half of 2005, has also been taken.

Augustus Martin marketing manager John Ryan said that the 40m-turnover company's self-financed investment was "a decision that was long in coming but was finalised at Drupa."

He said that in addition to the sheet size offered by the machine, the decision was reached because of its "speed, makeready times, and substrate flexibility".

The Rapida 205 is capable of speeds up to 11,000sph, and can handle substrate thicknesses of 0.1mm up to 1.6mm.

Ryan said: "In terms of retail graphics, large format is more and more important. That's been satisfied by digital and screen technology, but there are volumes which can be run more efficiently with lithographic to optimise quality and run. There are little gaps there."

The press uses UV-cured inks, enabling it to print on plastics, and is the largest UV press in the world.

The company plans little further investment in pre-press or finishing equipment. Daniel Pattison, Augustus Martin sales director, said: "We've already got the CTP in place, and we have finishing capacity for the large screen sizes."

Augustus Martin's investment follows fellow London large-format printer Delta Group's purchase of a MAN Roland 900XXL press last year (PrintWeek, 4 September 2003).

Tyneside-based simpsongroup has begun discussions with both MAN Roland and KBA about the possibility of installing large format litho presses in a new 4m purpose-built plant.

Story by Josh Brooks