"I'm not as concerned with increasing turnover as increasing profits," said Bahson managing director Ian Jenkinson (pictured right). "With this new productivity, manning levels don't need to increase but we'll be producing twice as much work, therefore profits should increase as well."

Close Print Finance backed the commercial printer's installation of a new 12-colour Speedmaster B1 Heidelberg press, the first of its kind in north-east England to be fitted with CutStar. 

Bahson has also chosen to retrofit a CutStar onto its 10-colour B1 Heidelberg, which was installed in 2001.

"It's the same old scenario with the current market looking to buy more competitively," said Jenkinson. "So we looked for ways to cut costs, and with CutStar we can save 15% on materials."

The 12-colour press has a top running speed of up to 13,000sph and has been linked up via Heidelberg Prinect workflow with the firm's existing 10- and six-colour Speedmaster presses.

Jenkinson also plans to invest in a B2 long perfector to replace a six-colour B2 Speedmaster with coater.