Offset Printing

Two tens for Speedmaster XL enthusiast Westdale Press

Friday 08. November 2013 - Westdale Press is re-equipping, purchasing two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106-10-P, ten-colour B1 perfectors. Although the company toyed with switching supplier it has returned to its incumbent sheetfed supplier.

“The final decision came down to confidence in the machine and our ability to operate with Heidelberg technology,” says Alan Padbury, managing director. “We know it and understand the press. Moving to another manufacturer is a big step and without experience we wouldn’t get the most out of another press.”
The first ten-colour will be a 15,000sph machine with Autoplate XL plate changing and Inpress Control automated colour and register adjustment. It will primarily handle shorter run work, typically 500 to 10,000 run although the factory handles runs of 500 to 5 million and the press is capable of competitively producing almost any of these jobs.
It replaces an ageing 12-colour press. Experience has shown that the volume of six-colour work is not justified and that the majority of work fits well on a ten-colour machine.
The first press will be delivered in April 2014. The company has secured a deal for another 18,000sph Speedmaster XL 106-10-P with Inpress Control but without Autoplate XL for 12 months later and this specification will better suit the longer run jobs. Based on the current market and with this specification of machine Westdale Press envisages output of around 70 million impressions a year from this second Speedmaster XL 106.
It is phasing its investment because it needs to manage the space, power and review further the type of work it does. Deputy managing director Dean Pike will implement the bedding down of the machines. Westdale Press is currently weighing up the web-sheetfed balance to ensure it produces the quality, response and cost that its customers demand.
These will be the fourth and fifth Speedmaster XL B1 presses the Cardiff company has bought from Heidelberg but the first latest generation Speedmaster XL 106s.
“We will certainly see a double digit productivity improvement with the first new XL 106,” says Mr Padbury. “We have had Inpress Control on one of our presses before and we know it is a powerful tool. Autoplate XL is a first but we see its potential.”
The company handles high end quality work, brochures, mail order, calendars and some coffee table magazines. It is a 24 hour operation.
“We have remained profitable in the recession even if trading has not been fantastic. We are seeing some improvement in the marketplace and customers seem to be placing more value on their supplier,” says Mr Padbury.
He certainly seems to place a value on his press supplier and particularly the service back up. “The Heidelberg engineers and electricians who come in here are fantastic; I can’t fault them,” he says.