The new press has been bought alongside a Cron UV CTP, which has replaced an outgoing Presstek CTP. Both are due for installation in November and were signed for two weeks ago.
The RMGT 924 will join six other Ryobi presses at the company and will be the 16th that LGP, formerly known as Leeds Graphic Press, has had in its near 40-year history.
Initially, the LED machine was going to be purchased as a replacement for one of LGP's Ryobi SRA2 presses but in the end managing director Philip Stead decided to retain the SRA2 and look for a printer that could take a bigger sheet size.
Stead said: “We’ve been watching LED developments since it first came out in 2008 and I think it is a gamechanger. Lead times are coming down, turnaround times are coming down. Drying is an issue and LED speeds that process up and virtually makes it instant. It will also potentially allow us to print on other substrates.”
Stead said his longstanding relationship with Hertfordshire-based supplier Apex Digital Graphics, which supplied the new Ryobi, meant he had got a good deal. It has a list price of £695,000.
“I didn’t consider others if I’m honest,” added Stead.
“Our longstanding relationship with Ryobi and Apex means that even though other manufacturers have come out with other machines I always felt it would be a bit of a compromise for LED. I think Ryobi were on the right track from the word go and some of the manufacturers have been playing catch up ever since.”
Ryobi unveiled its first LED machine at Drupa 2008.
Making up part of the RMGT 920 series, the four-colour 924 takes a maximum sheet size of 920x640mm at a thickness up to 0.6mm. It prints at top speeds of 16,200sph.
Other than the 924 and the Cron, LGP has also this year purchased a Duplo 600i Booklet System, installed two months ago, and upgraded its laminator.
“This was always the plan. Some of our equipment was coming to an end so it was a case of where to channel those monies next. You have to be continually investing in this game," added Stead.
“We need to bed-in all three things and then see where we go next year."
Along with the seven Ryobis, 26-staff LGP runs Xerox and Konica Minolta digital kit and finishing machinery from suppliers including Horizon, Morgana and Polar.
Last year, it turned over more than £2.3m.
