The press, which replaces a five-year-old eight-colour Heidelberg, features an image control system and CIP3 link to pre-press.
"Ever since the advent of CTP, prices and turnaround times have been squeezed," added Jones. "This gives us the edge back."
S&G Magazines handles over 220 titles and is just completing its shift to a 100% digital operation. It has two Agfa Galileo VXT platesetters, the first of which was installed in July 2000.
Jones said that the 205-staff S&G group was on target for sales of £15.5m this year, which is up on last year but equivalent to 2000. But he said margins had held up, adding: "We are prepared to lose business as opposed to giving it all away."
Story by Gordon Carson
