Impact Litho has spent 3m on a Heidelberg press unique to Britain and is inching closer to choosing a CTP system.


The six-colour Heidelberg PowerStream 100L is a 12pp 673mm-wide web, which will be used for 6pp covers with UV varnishing.


There were a few models in the USA and mainland Europe, but it was new to the UK, said joint managing director John Crouch.


The firm, which is part of Wyndeham Press, is due to install the press in April. It will replace a five-colour Heidelberg Web16.


The all-Heidelberg house also has two M600 presses with aqueous coating. The kit powers out covers for 100 magazines a month for publishers including IPC and EMAP at Impact's 160-staff Basingstoke plant.


Crouch said he bought the machine because of customer demand. "Firms want more for their covers including fluorescent colours and machine varnish," he said, adding: "We are working with Wyndeham towards CTP." The 25m-turnover firm hadn't yet decided the make of CTP system or how much it would spend.


Story by Jez Abbott