The business, which is the web division of the 64m turnover Goodhead Group, has won a string of new contracts and has decided on a major increase in capacity in the shape of a new 64/72pp Lithoman IV from MAN Roland. The four-unit press will be fitted with a ribbon folder and is set to be delivered next April and running in June.

"In this industry you have to be at the front edge of technology and this underpins our confidence in the Bicester business," said group managing director John Cooling. "We're at maximum capacity here at the moment and this installation will substantially increase it."

BGP reviewed a number of new web machines and also looked at the M4000 from defunct Kidderminster printer TPL before deciding on the 45,000cph Lithoman.

The new press will join four existing webs at the plant, an M4000, 16pp and 32pp Komori System 38s and an older Uniset. Raising the factory roof and digging new foundations for press will take the total spend to 7.5m.

Bicester runs 24/6 and employs 280 staff. The plant's bindery has already been upgraded with a raft of Muller Martini kit, and it also has two Creo VLF platesetters.

[o] The TPL M4000 has been sold by Heidelberg to Quebecor World's Srmlands Grafiska plant in Sweden.

Story by Jo Francis