The 15,000sph press, which will be installed at the Totnes, Devon-based family firm’s premises this week, cost around £1m. The machine, which has replaced an older XL 75 model, is specified with Inpress Control and Auto Plate.
Managing director Ross Bellotti, who runs the 30-year old company with his wife Sarita, said: “It’s fair to say 2014 was a pretty good year for us as overall sales were up 7%. Our biggest achievement has been in growing sales and reducing costs simultaneously.
“We have achieved this by reducing waste and developing more robust processes for taking on the right type of work for us; making us more efficient and doubling our net profit.
“The new XL 75 was a significant strategic investment for us and brings us a real competitive advantage. Our marketing activity will ensure we get this message out to key markets, driving the next phase in Kingfisher’s growth and development. It’s an exciting time to be in business.”
The XL 75’s Auto Plate will save Kingfisher two minutes per makeready, which the firm estimates will save it around £60,000 annually.
“It’s a testament to our team that we have made the investment in the new XL 75 as I am 100% confident they will embrace the new technology to make us even more efficient in 2015,” said Bellotti.
In March this year the business installed a Kodak NexPress SX 3300 and it has since seen its digital sales double.
Marketing manager Jodie Fulton said: “The litho arm of our business forms the majority of what we do but for us bringing the digital on board just increased the opportunity for customers on short-run work.
“Especially for estate agents where things can change quickly when properties are sold; that’s where the biggest take-up for digital has come from.
“I think the litho side is just going to grow and grow now, and we’ve just taken on a new salesman as well to help that growth. Having a new press on board will help us to experience more of the same growth that we've experienced in 2014.”
The business has also recently been working closely with web-to-print software developer ROI360 on a new in-house web-to-print offering for 2015, which uses market-specific data for advanced personalised direct mail work.
Bellotti said: “Web-to-print is not just for ordering business cards and letterheads, we have been pushing ROI360 by writing queries to get the very most out of the data available, ensuring the campaigns we are producing for our clients are as targeted as they possibly can be.
“Exciting times are ahead as more and more of our clients are seeing the value and return in using personalised print.”
Kingfisher Print & Design employs more than 30 staff and has a turnover of over £3.7m. It produces a wide range of print for clients including estate agents, print management companies and large multi-site and franchised organisations.
