The Buxton, Derbyshire-based outfit took a Konica Minolta AccurioPress C2060L in May, along with a Konica Minolta bizhub Pro 951 mono printer and a Mamo Lega 420 perfect binder, supplied by Watkiss.

The AccurioPress replaces a bizhub Pro C5501, which Printexpress managing director Mike Grange believes was the last of its type in the world.

The AccurioPress has mainly aided with general book production jobs, while the Pro 951 along with the circa £8,500 binder is being utilised for an ongoing contract printing handbooks for a local industrial machinery company, which was previously costing more than £4,000 per month to outsource.

Grange said that he wanted book production to be brought in-house to increase profits and gain full control of quality, highlighting the speed and reliability of both presses and the binder, along with the colour depth and coverage of the AccurioPress.

“With this investment, I have ensured we have the capability to respond to our clients’ needs for the foreseeable future," he said. 

“The 5501 can safely be retired now without causing a shortfall in capacity, while the combination of the 951 and the bookbinder has enabled us to increase profits to offset the costs involved.” 

Grange added that with the new presses, the £300,000-turnover business can go from artwork to 25 finished books in a couple of hours at its fastest. 

The four-colour AccurioPress runs at a maximum speed in black and white mode of 61ppm at maximum 1,200dpi resolution. It takes paper with long sheet feeder at a maximum size of 330mmx1.2m, and substrate weights up to 350gsm. It has a 4,250 sheet maximum paper capacity for long press runs without interruption. 

The Pro 951 runs at a maximum speed of up to 95ppm at maximum 1,200dpi resolution, taking sheets sized 320x450mm.

Founded in 1982, Printexpress offers a range of print services additional to its book offering, running three smaller copiers alongside the Konica Minolta machines. The company has a staff of four, plus Bella the office dog.