Best Cover UV, the brainchild of founder Darren Crake, is set to open in November and will use its CD 102-LYLYX to offer a trade service for gloss and matt UV coating, remoist gumming, fragrancing, scratch-off, metallics and opaques.

"The majority of other firm's machines run at 3,500-4,000sph, but ours will run at up to 15,000sph with virtually no waste," said Crake. "We'll also be offering vastly improved turnaround times compared to what customers are used to."

Crake has several unnamed clients already lined up for Best. Initially the firm will focus on magazine covers in the B1 sector but as it takes off it hopes to expand into bespoke work and the B2 market.

"B2 is one of the areas I really want to tap into," said Crake. "It's purely and simply because B2 customers are getting ripped off when it comes to price per thousand, because they're not spending as much as the big boys I want to close that gap."

The press will be configured with two coaters with interdeck infrared drying and extended delivery. Crake, who has 18 years' experience of web and sheetfed printing, saw the configuration in operation at a German print plant prior to signing the deal.

Staffing for the firm is already well in hand, with it only now needing drivers and a shopfloor assistant. Crake is also on the verge of finding a factory in the Leeds area.

The firm hasn't ordered any further kit as yet. But Crake is already considering die-cutting and creasing. "We'll be tapping into that further down the line when the finances are coming in," he said.

Story by Darryl Danielli