The Walton-on-Thames firm celebrates 35 years in business this year, and carried off the Printweek Customer Service Team of the Year – SME Award in March.
It has revamped its digital offering with the installation of a 5,400sph Jet Press 750S B2 inkjet, a 120ppm Revoria Press PC1120 SRA3-plus dry toner press with special colours, and a monochrome Revoria Press E1.
Managing director Michael Kille said Impress previously ran a brace of NexPress devices, but Kodak’s decision to stop making electrophotographic presses had accelerated the firm’s plans to re-equip.
He praised the speed, productivity, and minimal downtime of the trio of new Fujifilm presses and said the addition of B2 digital complemented its B2 litho offering, while adding new products such as short-run packaging, while the long sheet capability on the Revoria gave the firm additional output flexibility.
He described dealing with Fujifilm as “a fantastic experience”.
“It’s really good talking to a company that are just very positive – very positive about the future and they’ve obviously got a lot of investment going into their product line.
“We felt really comfortable with being properly supported by Fujifilm, and it has future-proofed us.”
The firm has invested around £1m overall in the new kit.
“We keep investing which in my view improves our position and our ability in the market to be able to service customers and give them what they want,” Kille added.
“Trading is buoyant. We like to focus on what we’re good at.”
He said the firm had also significantly reduced power consumption since installing the new digital devices, and the Jet Press allowed the firm to produce “more for less”. Waste and downtime have reduced, and output has increased.
“We’re getting so much more production through it than we were on the old machines. The environment is a big thing for us and we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint every year, so it’s a major part of our decision making when we buy any new machines.”
Taro Aoki, head of digital press solutions at Fujifilm Graphic Communications Europe said it was particularly rewarding to partner with a customer who recognised the potential in combining inkjet and toner technologies.
“But our market-leading technologies are only half of the story. We’re equally proud of the service we provide after installation as we help businesses to develop and grow.
“This bold investment from Impress is just the beginning, we look forward to working with them in the months and years to come as they grow their offering and their business and bring the benefits of best-in-class-toner and inkjet technology to their own customers.”
On the litho side Impress runs a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL75 ten-colour perfector with coater, alongside a five-colour with coater and a four-colour SM52.
The firm also has an extensive large-format printing operation and wide-range of in-house post-press kit as part of its comprehensive range of services.
Impress runs 24/6 and employs 73 staff, with sales of £9.5m.
Kille said he would be visiting Drupa to look at the latest industry developments with a particular focus on efficiency.
