The York company is replacing its three-year-old Linoprint C 751 with the new Linoprint CP, which is due to go into the 14-staff business early next month. The Latex machine was installed three weeks ago.
Managing director Nick Turnbull, who runs the company with his sister Pascha, said he hoped the new kit would boost turnover by a quarter in the next 12 to 18 months.
Inc Dot needed a robust digital press to handle heavier weight boards, up to 400gsm, for material such a business cards that offered consistent colour. Turnbull also considered printers from HP Indigo and Xerox.
“Customers are often disappointed by the thinner boards usually run through digital machines,” he said. “Having the ability to run 400gsm stock will certainly give us an edge in the market.
“Also, this investment will change the breakpoint between litho and digital, taking the cost crossover much closer to the 1,000-run mark.”
The HP Latex machine will enable the printer to take on work up to 1.6m wide for jobs including large external posters on materials including cloth and canvas.
“Margins are constantly being squeezed and clients are demanding faster turnaround times, so these kit purchases are about bringing as much as possible in-house to trim costs and add flexibility.”
Inc Dot, founded in 1979 by the siblings father John Turnbull, offers a range of commercial print with in-house design and finishing services.
The recent investment also included extended finishing capabilities, now adding foiling, spot varnish, and PUR binding to the repertoire.
The company boasts ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and FSC certifications, which Turnbull said were key selling points with local business and public-sector customers.
“Simply put, our customers are looking for the right quality, the right quantity, delivered at the right time and at the right price,” he explained.
Currently 60% of Inc Dot’s revenue is from litho production from a four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 and a two-colour GTO. The remaining 40% digital work was produced by the old Linoprint and a black-and-white Ricoh machine. Turnbull hopes this latest investment will push it towards a 50-50 split.
“There has been a strong demand for the latest generation Linoprint CP machine because of its mid-range price, high productivity, litho-like quality and its ability to produce six page A4 products,” he said.
