The company in Banbury, Oxfordshire, upgraded to a Polar N78 Plus machine with touchscreen operation, replacing an 18-year-old Polar guillotine. The new £40,000 model went in last week.

The N series is Polar’s latest, and its 11th-generation, guillotine and Technique Print Group managing director Karl Smith said software and speed of programming were “key gains”.

He explained: “Almost everything goes through the guillotine and for digital it can involve cutting before and after the printing process.

“The programming gives us so much ease and speed of makereadies. I would say set-up times are 75% quicker – a massive difference.

“We bought our first press from Heidelberg when we set up 21 years ago and I have confidence in the equipment and support.”

The business runs a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75, a Konica Minolta C6000 bizhub and a large-format HP Latex for print and display work for several major brands. The 21-staff company also offers design and web services and turns over of £2.5m.

“Our growth areas are large-format and digital work and next month we are talking to Heidelberg about possibly investing in one of their digital machines,” said Smith.

The Polar N78 Plus guillotine's 18.5in touchscreen colour display and automatic graphic programming increase automation, while its Optiknife is easily fitted, changed and adjusted. 

The model at Technique Print Group has a cutting width of 780mm, a feed depth of 780mm and a clamp opening of 120mm.