The Witham-based company ran plain paper speed trials on the press on Saturday 31 January. It subsequently ran its first print test, and on 4 February it ran a sustained test printing of a 48pp section at 42,500cph.

Ive never seen anything like it in my life I havent seen a press start up so well, said delighted managing director Simon Fox. We ran two reels of paper through it at between 40,000-42,500cph. What I cant stress enough is that the KBA engineers said were going to print and it just happened. Its like a BMW or Mercedes.

Ink maker Sun Chemical has also worked closely with the firm to ensure a problem-free start-up, and Woodfords production team has visited printers on the continent running the same type of press with Sun inks. The firm has formulated special inks to maximise the uptime on high-speed presses such as the Compacta.

Suns heatset division sales director Mark Humphreys said: We have a long trading history with Woodford and it was useful to be able to take them to see our other customers with experience of running this press.

Woodford ordered the Compacta C618 last April. The high-end specification includes semi-automatic plate loading, closed loop colour controls and a high-speed folder with twin choppers.

The press has since completed its first production run. We are now tuning the press control systems and GrafiKontrol closed loop colour system, Fox added.

Woodfords C618 was KBAs first commercial web order in the UK for almost a decade and the installation, which began last November, has been the subject of intense industry scrutiny not least because Woodford has allowed it be viewed live over the internet via webcams in its press hall.

Visit: www.woodfordlitho.co.uk.

Story by Jo Francis