The Deeside firm is an all-Heidelberg house and currently runs three M850s, one M300 and an M600B. The new press, which is scheduled to be up and running by October, will replace the oldest M850, which is 13 years old.
It confirmed the spend yesterday (Wednesday).
The highly-specified 70,000iph press has GMI closed loop colour controls, Heidelberg's new Ecocool integrated dryer, and spine gluing and rotary trimming. The firm has also left a gap for the future addition of a coater or sixth unit.
"It will give us an additional edge in the market and will probably get us into smaller run multi-section work because of the fast makereadies," said sales director Roger Carter. "A fast 16pp is more productive than an old 32pp.
"The market is tight at the moment but it's a seasonal thing. I'm optimistic, if I wasn't I wouldn't be in sales," he added.
The new web also has a shorter, 625mm cut-off as part of the new mini-gap specification.
Heidelberg web division manager John Chambers said: "In spite of the current situation [Heidelberg's divestment of its web division] we have taken the lion's share of web orders in the UK since Bernhard Schreier announced the sell-off."
Heidelberg is demonstrating a four-unit M600D at Drupa.
Graphoprint's 5m-plus Drupa spend also includes an upgrade to its Agfa pre-press setup, including a second Xcalibur VLF platesetter, ApogeeX workflow, Sublima XM screening and a Sherpa 44m proofer.
The firm is also installing Press Signature across all its webs.
Graphoprint expects turnover to be around the 25m mark this year. It employs 230 staff and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Story by Jo Francis at Drupa
