The two thermal machines will be used to feed the firm's 16 Timson mono coldset webs. They have replaced two visible light Barco Lithosetters at the Bungay plant and join a Creo Trendsetter VLF.

Clays also runs two Creo Lotem 400s to feed its colour Komori presses which print jackets and covers. It uses Agfa plates and consumes around 1,000 mono and 400-500 colour plates a day. These are produced on demand, following automatic order processing.

"We have tried to invest as many of the manual processes out as we can," said managing director Patrick Martell.

The Creo Magnus was unveiled at Drupa in May. The machine can produce 15 VLF plates per hour up to a maximum size of 1,600x2,108mm.

Clays has also made recent investments in press technology. 

A further Komori colour press, a six-colour Lithrone LS640 with coater (PrintWeek, 3 June), is due to arrive and it has just placed an order for a royal-format Timson machine, which will be installed in May replacing an older machine.

"It's ongoing," said Martell of the plant's investment strategy.  "We're here for the long term. We're investing as necessary."

With sales of 70m Clays is the UK's largest book printer. It has 650 staff, operates from a 14-acre site and produces about 140m hardback and paperback books a year.

Story by Lauretta Roberts