Pureprint has installed a range of Barwell's equipment at its Uckfield site, including an MK 1050 YM1-11 B1 automatic platen hot-stamping press, a Herzog+Heyman M7 master mailer and a Sakurai SC-102-A2 UV spot coater. In total, the haul brings 10 additional post-press processes in-house.
Barwell fell into administration on 25 June, with Simon and Daniel Plant of SFP appointed joint administrators. Its equipment was transferred to Pureprint in the following days and four of its 14 members of staff also joined the business.
According to Pureprint chief executive Mark Handford, Barwell had been facing a tough marketplace in recent months as its customers increasingly brought processes in-house.
“Barwell has long been seen as something of an extension of our own offering,” he said. “As the marketplace got harder to navigate, they began to struggle and eventually had to go into administration. We tried to take on up to eight of their staff, but geographical factors meant only four could join us.
“We are taking this on at a very exciting time as we get down to a major investment in our in-house post-press capabilities. By the end of the year, we expect to have invested about £2.5m in enhancing that side of things, including new folders, binders and more.
“Through the equipment we are able to add value to our offering in the bespoke marketplace, combining a number of processes to stand out.”
Pureprint had already been in the market for new post-press machinery when Barwell went into administration. Some of the machines were purchased from finance companies and others from the administrator.
Pureprint is now advertising four vacancies at its Uckfield headquarters to manage its upgraded post-press operation, alongside the four staff who have already transferred from Barwell.
Quadruple winner at last year’s PrintWeek Awards, Pureprint Group runs a number of sites nationwide, with 470 staff in total. The circa 9,300sqm Uckfield base employs around 270 of those workers.
Using Barwell’s equipment, the group will bring in 10 new post-press capabilities, including hot foiling, embossing, debossing, die-cutting, perforating and spot UV varnishing.
In April, Pureprint was the first UK firm to upgrade its HP Indigo 12000 with HD writing heads, as its investment drive over the past five years reached spending heights of £20m. The group turns over more than £65m.
