Godfrey, who started in the role on 6 October, is an addition to the firm's existing digital sales team. He has previously worked as a production print sales specialist at Balreed Digitec and, prior to that, Konica Minolta UK.

Reporting to Heidelberg UK digital printing equipment business manager Chris Matthews, Godfrey will work closely with the existing sales team to increase sales of the digital Linoprint range in the south. The firm is planning to take on a northern counterpart in the first half of 2015.

Matthews said: “Darren brings a lot of experience and focus to this sector. His appointment marks the first part of a digital expansion at Heidelberg after another successful year.” 

The OEM'd Linoprint CV and Linoprint CP machines, which will also be sold by manufacturer Ricoh as the Ricoh Pro C9100 and Ricoh Pro C9110, are scheduled to launch in January 2015 and will replace the Linoprint C751 and Linoprint C901 respectively. Pricing for the new devices is as yet unavailable.

The Linoprint CV offers the option of a fifth colour for white or clear varnish applications. It can handle stocks of 52gsm to 360gsm and, depending on feeder selection, can handle 330x488mm standard sheets or 330x700mm banner formats. It has options to produce either 80 or 90 A4ppm.

The Linoprint CP, which is suitable for for 52gsm to 400gsm production, can handle 330x488mm standard sheets or 330x700mm banner formats. It has options to produce either 110 or 130 A4ppm.

Godfrey said: “My main focus initially will be to focus on these two new products. They're the next step up in terms of consistency and productivity. They will provide solutions across a range of applications including packaging labels, signage and straight or perfected commercial work.

“The ability to print duplex/perfected with a fifth colour and on stocks of up to 700mm are game-changing developments. I am very glad to be part of Heidelberg which is a very strong brand with a huge base of customers and vast expertise in this market.”