Finishing & Screen Printing

McLays tops and tails its Speedmaster XL 106

Wednesday 13. March 2013 - "Our Speedmaster XL 106 is flying," says Richard Kyte, head of manufacturing at McLays. "Our customers and prospects are very impressed with it. We are following up with investment in prepress and postpress equipment to keep pace with the higher productivity."

The £16m turnover Cardiff company signed to buy the Speedmaster XL 106-5+L with Inpress Control at Drupa last year. Now it has returned to buy a Suprasetter 105 CtP device only a few weeks after adding its second Stahlfolder TH 56.
The Suprasetter replaces a Kodak Lotem II. “We decided in favour of Heidelberg CtP because we invested in Prinect Prepress Manager last year and our long term aim is to network all our production and link it in to our MIS. Having the Suprasetter makes that synergy easier. It’s all about future proofing our business.”
The Suprasetter will lift output from 16 to 27 plates per hour and the company will operate with the Fuji Pro-T plate supplied by Heidelberg, reducing the chemistry required which has both environmental and cost benefits.
The second Stahlfolder delivered in January follows on from one installed a year before and the investment is testament to its success. The first was equipped with a VSA stacker, this second with a twin stacker which means faster set up times and higher output.
“The first machine was so good we came back for another additional folder which will give us maximum flexibility. Currently we have Prepress Manager and Press Room Manager but eventually we will link in postpress and link our production and MIS functions,” says Mr Kyte.
McLays is a leading print, mail and digital communications provide to major UK brands across a broad range of business sector, including financial services, healthcare, retail, government and utilities.