The Croydon-based family business had run a Printmaster PM 52 and a GTO, both from Heidelberg, for the past eight years, and has brought in the new machines to boost capacity by 30%-35% and speed up turnarounds.
With the old presses ageing, Graphico’s directors elected to invest £360,000 in one four-colour Speedmaster and £170,000 in a two-colour version. Both machines are now in the process of being commissioned onsite.
“Usually, we update our equipment every three to five years,” said managing director Shaukat Dungarwalla. “We have been through some hard times with the economy, the markets, and now the uncertainty of Brexit so it has been hard to keep up with that.
“Our work largely goes to the service industry, and our clients always want their jobs finishing yesterday so we needed machines that could aid us with quicker turnarounds. Many factors led us to choose the SX 52s – better quality, better maintenance and more from Heidelberg.
“Graphico is now being renewed from top to bottom. We are glad to have clients who believe in us and our policy for fulfilling our promises when we say we can do something.”
The B3-size SX 52s can print at speeds of 15,000sph onto stocks weighing up to 600gsm, allowing Graphico to print anything from carbonless paper up to envelopes.
Last year, the £3m-turnover firm upgraded its CTP capabilities with a new Suprasetter from Heidelberg which Dungarwalla said had left them well-prepared for the new machines.
Dungarwalla’s son, pre-press and digital director Abizar Dungarwalla, will also oversee an upgrade to the firm's Xerox digital presses that have seen demand quadruple in the past two years.
With the Suprasetter CTP, the two new Speedmasters and a range of Polar guillotines, Graphico’s litho capabilities are buoyed up by Heidelberg.
Shaukat Dungarwalla said: “Heidelberg have an old school attitude, like myself, in that a handshake holds meaning. They have looked after us well based on our agreements.”
Shaukat Dungarwalla founded the company in 1975 with his two brothers and fellow directors Munaver and Mustafa. The staff comprises 27 members working on 2,500sqm premises.
