The Suffolk business installed the machine last month, purchasing it secondhand from Close Brothers Asset Finance for around £160,000. It replaces a B3 Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52, which has been sold on to another business.
Flyer has expanded one of its two units by around 15% in order to accommodate the press, and is also taking on a HighWater Python four-up platesetter from Marlowe Digital to allow for the bigger sheet size.
Managing director Jon Trotter said: “Because we’ve got a small unit we were looking at five-colour B2 Heidelbergs but the problem with that was going to be space. The Komori we went for ticked all the boxes, it’s more compact, has a good reputation in the marketplace and we are not buying something completely new that we don’t know anything about.”
Trotter added that he was pleased with the machine’s low impression count. It had registered around 12 million impressions when purchased and has already hit the one-million mark with Flyer Press.
“The B2 makes such a difference because for every impression we are doubling up what we are doing, so turnaround times are even faster,” he said.
Printing at a maximum speed of 13,000sph, the Enthrone takes sheets up to 530x750mm and between 0.04-0.6mm thick. It is highly automated with auto pre-inking, auto plate-changing and auto wash-ups.
“It’s an enjoyable machine to use. It’s early days at the moment but I’m sure in time we will get to know its plusses and minuses,” added Trotter.
Flyer Press, which has 12 staff and a turnover of around £380,000, is part of Flyer Group, which also encompasses publishing arm Flyer Online and franchising operation Flyer Franchising. It prints 11 local magazines, which are distributed locally by its in-house distribution team.
Along with the Komori, it runs a 2016-purchased Duplo 600i Booklet System, a Duplo stitching line, a Wohlenberg guillotine and a PUR binder.
It was established in 2005, primarily to print local magazine Felixstowe Flyer, but steadily increased its services and now produces a range of commercial print for both local and international clients.
