The Belfast-based digital printing specialist installed the four-colour device over the summer.
Managing director Richard Campbell said the firm had previously outsourced long sheet work, but that side of the business had grown sufficiently to justify the £120,000 investment.
“It became a no-brainer to buy a long sheet press, and we can add in a number of new product lines because of it, along with foiling which works with the dry toner,” he explained.
“We keep thinking of things we can produce on the Iridesse, so that’s all very exciting.”
The firm operates via four online web-to-print brands across the UK and Ireland: DigitalPrinting.co.uk, TradeDigitalPrint.co.uk, DigitalPrinting.ie and TradeDigitalPrint.ie.
It takes advantage of its Northern Ireland location to sell into the Republic of Ireland EU market.
Around three-quarters of Northside’s £10m turnover comes from the online operations.
Bestport Private Equity acquired a majority stake in the company in January, and Campbell said things were going well under the new ownership structure.
The firm has appointed a number of new team members since, including marketing manager Garth Crawford and five new apprentices, taking its total number of employees to 74.
Campbell said the biggest challenge currently facing the business was finding staff because of the booming Northern Ireland economy, and unemployment in the region at a record low.
In February Northside also added an additional unit 372sqm unit to its setup, taking its total space on the Round Tower Industrial Estate to nearly 1,500sqm.
The Iridesse joins a raft of other digital printing kit including four HP Indigo 7r presses, a monochrome Xerox Primelink device; and large-format printers from Jetrix, HP and Roland DG.
The firm also has extensive in-house finishing equipment to serve demand for fast-turnaround work, including a host of products that are available with a same day despatch option.
Northside also puts a lot of effort into efficient workflows, with an Enfocus Switch system at the heart of its operations.
The firm won Printweek Company of the Year in the 2023 Printweek Awards.
