The Hampshire-based firm will take delivery of an XL 105-4LX four colour machine with extended delivery and coater in May.

The firm needed a machine that could handle lots of short run as well as some very long run work and wanted automation and quality control.

"We wanted to see what the XL 105 could do and the speed and quick makeready time were impressive and key to our decision," said Ian Dollin.

Co-directors Ian and Nigel Dollin made the decision after seeing the 105 XL in action at Heidelberg's factory and at German beta sites in November.

The 105 will replace a five colour 102, and joins the firm's new digital press a Xerox iGen3, which was installed in the autumn.

Heidelberg UK is taking delivery of an XL 105, a six-colour plus coater, in April, in time for its spring open houses.

Westdale Press, which ordered an XL 105 at last May's Drupa, was set to be the first UK firm to install the XL 105, but decided to delay following the installation of two long perfecting Speedmaster 102s a 10- and a 12-colour.

Story by Barney Cox