Taking delivery of two new Ricoh C7500 toner presses over the Christmas break, the firm has replaced its ageing C9100 and C7200X engines. 

With four and five colour channels each, the new presses will be able to take on both short-run commercial work and security print applications.

Managing director Neil McKie told Printweek he was looking forward to deploying the fifth colour channel with neon, infra-red, clear, and metallic inks in the firm’s security print work.

The Northumberland mixed-discipline printhouse has had minor involvement in the security print market since before the pandemic, but has recently stepped up its efforts with a particular focus on providing proofing services to larger security printers, especially following the exodus at security print giant De La Rue.

“All these big security companies are geared up to do production, not proofing,” McKie explained.

Robson has taken on a sales consultant from the industry, and is now chasing further work in the security arena.

The firm was certificated with ISO 27001 in December 2023, after a two-year long process that had been extended under sad circumstances.

"We took on a consultant, to be certified through a process called Sycurio," McKie explained: "Unfortunately, the gentleman passed away halfway through the process." 

After struggling to find another consultant for the same accreditation process, the firm finally managed to gain full certification by Christmas 2023.

The new printers, McKie added, will likewise prove useful for winning security work.

“As well as helping on the commercial side, the [new Ricohs] can integrate those security features and mimic what full-scale production lines would be like, whether for currencies, tax stamps, or whatever.”

Robson Print has now been a Ricoh house for 10 years, with the digital machines today running alongside an RMGT B3 and Heidelberg Quickmaster two-colour press, and a number of Waite & Saville Intaglio presses and Thompson dry offset press from the 60s and 70s that the firm has restored.

“It’s a great relationship we have with Ricoh,” McKie added.

“This will be the third time we’ve upgraded. Our philosophy with digital presses, because technology moves so quickly, has always been to lease the machines and then send them back when the new model comes out.

“We’ve found it the best way.”

Robson Print employs 10 at its 400sqm factory.