The Glasgow book and journal printer had been researching the reel-fed colour inkjet market earlier this year, which included a trip by chairman Stephen Docherty and managing director Karen Baillie to the Hunkeler Innovationdays event in Switzerland.

While the business looked at a raft of options during its research phase, including Koenig & Bauer’s RotaJet inkjet web press, it was most impressed by the Ricoh Pro VC70000 and decided to take on that machine to replace an existing Pro VC60000 that was installed in 2017.

Docherty told Printweek: “When I spoke with Ricoh, they told me that they can print any material – many of [the other vendors] can do the same but most of them seem to pre-coat.”

The machine has been bought outright by Bell & Bain “as we don’t do clicks up here, we like to own our machines”, Docherty said, although the amount of the investment has not been disclosed.

The VC70000 is expected to be up and running in around two to three weeks’ time.

“I’ve got a book in front of me that Ricoh have printed roll-fed [on the VC70000] and I’m absolutely blown away by it – it’s unreal. I’m super excited,” Docherty added.

“Being able to take the same paper and not put a pre-coater on it is a game-changer for me.”

Bell & Bain’s other recent investments have included two Rapida 145 large-format presses from Koenig & Bauer. While the company is not looking at investing in any other printing devices in the near future, Docherty said it will be looking at potential finishing options including stitching kit.

Bell & Bain acquired fellow Glasgow printer J Thomson Colour Printers in summer 2019, creating a £30m-plus turnover group.

The group now turns over around a third more, with sales of around £38m-£39m expected for the current financial year – £28m of that figure from Bell & Bain itself.

260 staff work across the group, 147 of those for Bell & Bain. The group has over 11,000sqm space across the main Bell & Bain site, J Thomson’s premises, and a third site that houses digital and foiling kit.