Kenilworth, Warwickshire-based Emmerson took delivery of the £40,000 machine at the end of January in order to bring its lamination services in-house.

The commercial printer said it previously outsourced this work to a local company, but often had to add 24 hours to its lead times and the supplier's minimum charge impacted the cost-effectiveness of short-run jobs. Foliant’s B2+ machine, which runs at 25m/min, was selected for its small footprint and its foiling capabilities.

“The laminator helps with our schedule but also with our bottom line,” said managing director Paul Heath. “We do a lot of pub menus, brochure covers, and the sort of things that are always laminated.

“Now we can turn around much quicker and the foiling has helped us add an extra dimension to our offering – including the ability to personalise the foil.

“Now it has been installed, we are in the process of setting up a logistic mailing division and shopping around for new presses, as well as looking at getting in a new stitching line. There’s a lot going on for us at the moment.”

Foliant’s multi-functional Inprinting Unit, which gives the 530SF its foiling capabilities, makes the process fast and affordable on short-run and personalised print, in colours such as gold, silver, red and green, as well as a clear gloss for spot varnishing.

Emmerson’s model was supplied with a Heidelberg suction feeder, joining a number of Heidelberg machines at the plant, including two B2 Speedmaster XLs and a two-colour Speedmaster CD.

It also runs a Fujifilm Jet Press 720S, which was the first to be installed in the UK, and a Linoprint C751 alongside a wide gamut of finishing capabilities. With 30 employees on its 1,858sqm premises, Emmerson Press turns over £4m and offers a mix of offset litho and digital print services.