In December 2017, Cardiff-based Spectrum was the first Welsh company to take a Speedmaster CX 75 B2 press. Due to the increase in output from its latest press, which replaced two ageing Speedmasters, the firm is set to introduce the 92N.
It will replace an older Polar model from 2005, improving on its predecessor with its faster knife change, higher speed and greater programmability enabling it to better support the CX 75.
Managing director Lawrence Corria said: “We have always had Heidelberg and Polar, and they have always done us proud. With the reliability, we have only had a few minor problems in 15 years and none have cost us any money to put right.
“A lot of our clients are high-end design agencies in Cardiff and the surrounding area, as well as general customers, so it is good that we are able to offer them work at a higher level of quality and speed, seeing as everyone wants jobs turned around yesterday these days.
“Now we are looking at using the new machinery to gradually increase our turnover and bring in a bit more growth and new customers – it should be a nice, steady increase.”
The 920mm-wide Polar 92N Plus runs at a cutting speed of 45 cycles/min and is mainly intended for use on half-size applications with a number of programmable additional functions to improve productivity.
Spectrum runs a 20-staff operation on £1.6m turnover, using a Ricoh C9100 digital production system alongside its headline litho machine, and a “full array” of finishing, according to Corria.
