In a move that has the potential to see the company's turnover rise from £3.2m to £5m over the next five years, PBL Print has moved premises and installed three brand new presses. 

The Washington, Tyne & Wear, company believes its investment will give it a 50% increase in capacity following the eight mile move to its new 30,000 sq ft freehold facility. It has plans to further extend the offices to give a final space of 33,000 sq ft. 

All 40 staff have transferred and will benefit from a re-equipment programme that enables the company to move to Heidelberg's latest professional class Speedmaster SX platform. The new line up will include a Speedmaster SX74-5-P+L (a B2 five-colour perfector with coater) and two Speedmaster SX 52 Anicolors, a five- and a four-colour and each with a dedicated inline coater. These replace two Speedmaster presses, a straight SM 74-5 and a SM 52 Anicolor -4+L. A Printmaster PM 74-2 will be retained and transferred to the new site.

To keep pace with the expanded print capacity PBL Print is also adding a third guillotine, a Polar 92X Plus, and also two more automated folders, a Stahlfoder TH56 buckle and a Stahlfolder KH56 combination model. 

"We have Easy Control spectrophometry on the SX 74 and Heidelberg UK is looking at how we can have a colour measurement tool on the Anicolors as well," says director Chris Murley. "Although colour measurement is unnecessary from a production perspective because there is only a little manual adjustment on the Anicolor we would like something that would allow us to give customers a print out of the colour levels attained thus proving that their job was run to ISO12647-2 stadards. We are a member of the Heidelberg Colour Club, a printer that holds the Heidelberg ISO 12647-2 certification and running to that standard remains important to us."

The company has replaced an existing folder with a Stahlfolder TH 56 buckle machine and is expecting the Stahlfolder KH 56 combination folder, featuring a continuous feeder facility, to follow in the next few weeks. 

"Having these two folders we have 98% of our folding requirements covered," says Mr Murley. "We like the build and longevity of Stahlfolder technology which better suit our type of high volume work. The automation and touchscreen technology marries up better with the pressroom, taking finishing into the modern world. We have no current plans to become JDF connected in this area but at least these machines are future-proof. We are convinced that these folders are the best match for our type of high volume commercial printing." 

PBL Print undertook a five week overlap on premises which allowed them to make the transfer with minimal disruption to service. The presses are now fully commissioned and running productively.

All equipment and staff have transferred. One welcomed improvement at the site is the full delivery bay with a speed door meaning temperature and humidity conditions in the plant will remain relatively stable. PBL Print provides a 24 hour, five day a week service to its customers who include several NHS Trusts and print management companies such as Communisis, Charterhouse.