The machines were installed over the summer at the Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire-based printer's 4,000sqm site in the main to help alleviate bottlenecks and act as an addition to Just Digital’s current kit roster of nine presses and 29 finishing machines. The Xerox machines were supplied by Xerox reseller Xeretec. 

Production manager Callum Higgins said that the bottlenecks were causing a backlog of work for the finishing team and additional firepower was required for a surge in recent orders.

“The additional presses have helped to alleviate the bottlenecks that were previously an issue and enabled a smoother operation throughout the production process,” said Higgins.

“It also allows for the running of large-sheet jobs without changing the heat roller and tray setup as we can dedicate one press to this type of work, thereby increasing productivity. Also, in the event of servicing or a press being down we have little or no impact on the production process.” 

Launched in 2015, the 150ppm iGen 5 has a resolution of 2,400dpi and can handle coated, uncoated, textured and speciality stocks of 50gsm to 350gsm at 364x660mm maximum size. 

“We hope that with the installation of two iGen 5s that we will go from strength to strength and be able to look forward to increased productivity and enable us to look for further clients to help grow the business further," added Higgins.

Running at up to 4,500bph, the iSaddle stitching lines can produce A4 landscape-format brochures and books of up to 120pp, taking a maximum flat sheet size of 356x508mm.

Higgins added that after a big investment year that has also incorporated the two iSaddles and the purchase of five new bookletmakers, it would be unlikely Just Digital will be investing in more machinery in the near future, but this could change depending on client requests or contract wins. 

Just Digital, whose blue-chip clients include Mercedes Benz, the NHS and Anglian Water, employs 150 staff, with projected sales for 2017 at £10m.