The Merthyr Tydfil sheetfed printer typically uses more than 300,000sqm of printing plates a year.

The new deal has seen S&G switch from ECO3’s Azura chem-free plate to its newer Adamas plate, also chemistry-free.

Chairman and group managing director Andrew Jones said the decision process had been multi-faceted, with sustainability and local supply high on the agenda.

“The decision to work with the ECO3 Adamas chemistry-free printing plates fits perfectly with our objective and ensures that our print preparation becomes a whole lot greener,” he said.

“The decision to use the Adamas plate has to do with the ecological advantages and the performance of the product itself, but it was also important for us to choose a partner with production capacity in Europe.

“Transport does not only have a strong ecological impact, it’s of paramount importance for a company our size that we can rely on a swift and timely supply of impeccable products.”

S&G became the first printer in the UK to install Heidelberg’s 21,000sph Speedmaster XL 106 earlier this year, making the right choice of consumables paramount for consistent high-speed production.

ECO3 head of sales for Europe Eddie Williams said Adamas was a more robust plate that required very little wash-out.

“With the Adamas plate, our customers make a substantial stride towards sustainability. In the case of Stephens & George, this translates to saving hundreds of thousands of litres of water and avoiding the use of large amounts of hazardous processing liquids.

“The Adamas plates require no rinse water and are washed out with a very limited amount of gum, making them a truly eco-friendly choice,” he explained.

The plates are manufactured at ECO3’s Wiesbaden factory in Germany.

Adamas is negative working, is suitable for screens up to 240lpi for commercial print work using Sublima screening, and run lengths of up to 350,000.

Williams said that having a strong presence in Europe was a vital part of the group’s offering.

“This is a conscious choice aimed at ensuring maximum deliverability of our products to our customers. I am pleased that Stephens & George attach great importance to this,” he noted.

“We are growing in a declining market, so we must be doing something right.”

S&G works for a wide range of customers printing magazines, brochures and similar products.

The firm employs 170 at its 15,000sqm factory and Jones has set a £40m turnover goal for the business, which had sales of £31.5m in the year to 31 March 2023.

The firm prints a number of titles for Mark Allen Group, including Printweek.