British print shop Oriel Printing Company Ltd. based in Hull invested in a Speedmaster CX 102 seven-color press with coating unit and UV equipment from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) at drupa 2012. The new UV press will complement an existing Speedmaster CD 102-7+L UV and replace a Speedmaster CD 102 six-color press. Oriel is looking to use this new investment of just under EUR 2.5 million (GBP 2 million) to increase its current sales of EUR 4.34 million (GBP 3.5 million) by at least ten percent next year, thereby securing its profitability. Founded in 1978, the company has a workforce of 40 employees, and offers a trade UV printing service in 24-hour operation. Oriel Printing specializes in producing high value print for niche products and manufactures on a wide array of materials, ranging from paper and board up to one millimeter (0.039 in) thick to plastics and foils also with thicknesses of up to one millimeter. Discerning customers from the UK and the Republic of Ireland order advertising and point-of-sale print products manufactured on plastic or foil using UV printing or conventional commercial jobs such as books, brochures, magazines, folders, and labels. 

"We're convinced the new Speedmaster CX 102 will improve our productivity and quality and expand our offering in UV sheetfed offset, enabling us to meet customer needs even faster and more flexibly in the future," explains Managing Director Richard Simms. The Speedmaster CX 102 prints 16,500 sheets an hour and gives Oriel Printing the flexibility to apply primers, spot colors, and UV, aqueous, seal, and special coatings. The company can therefore meet customer demand for eye-catching and innovatively finished print and packaging products even more effectively. "The technology is great and the support by Heidelberg experts has also impressed us, with their sound, informed advice. We have every confidence in the service and support that Heidelberg offers," says Simms. 

Optimum quality and speed for niche products 
Oriel Printing already uses the Prinect Axis Control spectral measurement system for its existing press and has also opted for this for its new acquisition. "This system ensures our presses keep to the ISO 12647-2 standard at all times, enhancing color consistency by using CIE Lab values and also minimizing waste," adds Simms. "But we're taking our color control a step further with Color Assistant Pro, a system that calibrates our ink profiles automatically and reduces foil wear. This massively reduces start-up waste and ensures integrity in brand management. The Speedmaster CX 102 underlines our systematic emphasis on lean production." 

The non-stop feeder and delivery and the multiple coating system will allow Oriel Printing to switch easily and speedily between different jobs with minimal downtime and fewer washup cycles.

Over 1,500 Speedmaster CX 102 printing units already sold 
The Speedmaster CX 102 was unveiled at IPEX 2010 and enables customers to respond to the market trend for maximum productivity and cost efficiency. Over 1,500 printing units in this series have already been sold to date. The wide range of configurations and equipment makes it possible to adapt the Speedmaster CX 102 to the specific requirements of the relevant business model. It can be ordered in a variety of configurations, from straight press to dual-coating configuration and even as a Duo press with flexographic printing before offset. A very broad spectrum is covered with numerous application options ranging from UV equipment, foil packages, and the CutStar sheeter to cold foil applications with FoilStar. There is therefore also huge demand for the Speedmaster CX 102 in packaging printing and roughly one in every three printing units is accounted for by this segment, a trend that is continuing to rise.