Heidelberg has revealed the names of the first two UK NexPress 2100 users and says it aims to install 50 of the digital colour presses in the UK over the next year.

IGW in Oxford and Londons Printflow 86 took delivery of the machines on 17 September and 10 October respectively. Both claim to have started commercial work within days.

Heidelberg head of digital high volume Mark Clark said the two firms had been chosen to join the Early Partnership Program (EPP) for their "experience and success" with digital colour.

He said: "By Christmas we will have three more EPP sites and commercial orders start in January."

IGW first moved into digital colour in 1995 with one of the UKs first Agfa Chromapresses. It runs three Xeikon-based digital web presses, as well as a Quickmaster 46 DI and litho machines.

"The quality is a step-change from anything weve previously been able to offer," said chief executive Simon Harris.

All but one of IGWs digital webs will be "ousted in favour of sheetfed digital printing," Harris added. "The only advantage web has lies in variable formats."

Printflow also runs a variety of mono and colour digital print engines. Customer services director Richard Nixon said: "[NexPress] does have the potential to deliver on its promises, its the first digital machine Ive had this feeling for."

The 2100 will get its official UK launch at Ipex. Heidelberg aims to install 500 machines worldwide within a year.

UK list price will be 325,000.

Story by Lauretta Roberts