The commercial printer also installed a Matrix MX-530DP digital laminator and foiler around three weeks ago, in a total investment that topped the £50,000 mark. The Versant was supplied by Xerox reseller Zerographic Systems.
The Versant 180, which was launched in April, has been configured with Performance Package, which allows it to print faster on higher paper weights. It joins two other Xerox machines in Rotary’s digital department, a 700 and a DocuColor 260.
Rotary managing director Teri Baron, who is also BPIF Midlands region vice-chair, said that the machine would enable Rotary to take on heavier duplex business cards jobs, and would speed up turnarounds.
“We are adding these extra services for people that want things within two to three days,” said Baron.
“We’re fast turnaround and that’s the way the print industry is going. This machine is very very quick with a quick setup – we can queue the work up and print it and while it’s printing can be curing another job. It’s more than halving setup time.”
The 180 was launched in April, along with the Xerox Versant 3100. It runs at a top speed of 80ppm, taking paper weights from 52gsm to 350gsm at a maximum sheet size of 330x660mm. Rotary’s machine has been configured with an inline bookletmaker and trimmer.
As with previous Versants, it comes with an inline spectrophotometer for increased colour control automation and is suitable for a wide range of media types, including coated and uncoated papers, bright papers, labels, business cards, glossy brochures and window decals.
Baron praised Zerographic and the efforts of its sales executive Rob Lacey.
“We’ve got a longstanding relationship with Zerographic and while I did go out and look at the whole of the market and see people and talk to other printers, I stayed with Zerographic because of its service.”
The Matrix has mainly been brought in to bring the foiling process in-house and save on lead times, mostly for short-run jobs of business cards and wedding invitations.
Stourport-on-Severn-based Rotary also runs four litho machines, one SRA2 Speedmaster and three GTOs, along with a variety of finishing equipment. The £2.5m-turnover outfit has 18 staff, four of which work for its stationery arm Peter Handley Stationery.
Baron added: “In the 1970s and 1980s we were a litho house with an artwork department. Now I’ve got a studio with a team of five, a web division doing digital marketing, all to substitute for the lack of litho work so that the company can continue growing."
