Colin Le Gresley, Aztec’s managing director, committed to LED curing in June after seeing dramatic energy savings on trial installations of Benford UV LED dryers.

Since then, the firm has installed two more Benford systems on a Focus press and its four-colour Nilpeter FB3300 press, alongside a Fujifilm Activ UV LED conversion for another Nilpeter machine.

Aztec’s two remaining presses, its eight- and ten-colour Nilpeter lines - the company’s largest presses - had been due for conversion before Christmas, but delays pushed the installation of two further Fujifilm UV dryers back to January.

Le Gresley said he expected the conversions - worth around £300,000 in investment - to create significant economies for the firm’s production budget.

He told Printweek: “I am expecting - and am waiting to prove - a dramatic reduction in our energy cost.

“We know that we will have time savings on machinery; a lot less maintenance cost on the systems; and we are also expecting to achieve faster drying speed on the machines.”

The faster drying speed, he emphasised, could amount to a considerable increase in production.

Le Gresley added, however, that it was not just a straightforward financial motive that prompted the £5m-turnover firm to invest in LED curing technology. 

The company, which has an array of 360 solar panels on its roof and a zero-landfill policy, has positioned itself as an environmentally conscious printer. 

By taking significant steps to minimise energy usage, such as the UV LED conversions, Aztec will be able to do good for the environment and market itself to sustainably minded customers, according to Le Gresley.