Solopress is proud to announce a £3.4m round of fresh investment, reinforcing its commitment to both litho and digital print. This strategic move includes the acquisition of a second B1 litho press, the most advanced HP Indigo yet, an upgraded foil and spot UV machine and an added cross folder. These additions will bolster Solopress’ production capacity, enhance print quality, and expedite the company’s ambitious plan for growth. 

Additions to the plant list included in the £3.4m spend are: 

• Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 4 litho press with Coating Unit 

• HP Indigo 120K Digital Press 

• Konica Minolta AccurioShine 3600 with iFoil One 

• Horizon AFV-566FTK Ice Folder 

• MBO T800 section folder  

It’s not by chance that Solopress has backed both digital and litho approaches during this recent round of investment. This dual approach ensures the company can leverage the strengths of each method, providing customers with the highest quality print solutions regardless of the job's requirements. The Heidelberg Speedmaster adds to Solopress’s B1 output, cementing its commitment to high-volume lithographic printing. Meanwhile, the HP Indigo 120K harnesses the latest B2 digital print technology. 

Managing Director Simon Cooper explains,  

“We see a strong future for both lithographic and digital. The new Speedmaster allows us to continue delivering unparalleled litho print quality on large runs. At the same time, our investment in the HP Indigo 120K positions us to meet the growing demand for high-quality, digital print runs, with minimal downtime. By pursuing both approaches, we ensure that whatever jobs come in on any given day, we can address the needs of a diverse range of customers in a timely fashion.” 

Installation of the new units has been taking place throughout 2024. MD Simon Cooper said of the installations. 

“We have experienced success in the past using quieter periods to carry out installations. The pandemic was a case-in-point, where we were able to use the period of suppressed demand to set up HP T250 high speed inkjet production, similarly in the summer of 2022 we opened up and installed the XL106 10 colour in our new “site 4” – the same site where we’ve now just installed our second B1 press. 

This year was predictably unpredictable in that we knew a general election was coming at some point. We’d anticipated it landing at the end of the year so when it was sprung on us in June it put the cat amongst the pigeons. However, it’s a testament to the excellent team we’ve built up that we were able meet record-breaking demand without dipping below a 99.3% on-time despatch rate for the YTD. We’re now getting ourselves set up for the next peak which will happen in Q4, where we expect to be firing on all cylinders..” 

This substantial investment underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence in print. By enhancing both lithographic and digital capabilities, Solopress is well-positioned to continue providing high-quality, versatile printing solutions to its diverse client base, ensuring sustained growth and market leadership in the printing industry.