Eclipse Colour Print, based in Kettering, England, is extending its web printing capabilities by the addition of a second Goss M-600 press. It will work alongside a similar press installed in 2004 in a custom-built facility next to the sheetfed plant.

"In 2003, we took the strategic decision to move into web printing on the basis that it would give our clients better value for money on higher run-length work," states Simon Moore, managing director and owner of Eclipse Colour Print. "The purchase of a second press is a true reflection that this was the right policy. Our quality and pricing very much appeals to a wide portfolio of blue chip clients – we are always busy."

Founded originally as a sheetfed printer in 1999, Eclipse Colour Print has always maintained a philosophy of delivering the highest quality and sustainable value for its clients. For this reason, the first M-600 web press was installed as a multifaceted production workhorse. With six units and many options, including sheeting and comprehensive inline finishing it can cope with jobs as diverse as brochures and flyers to complex folded and glued products, many of which can be finished direct from the press, saving both production time and money.

The second Goss M-600 system, rated at 60,000 impressions per hour, will be delivered in December 2010. It is equipped with five units, Goss Autoplate fully automatic plate changing technology, and a combination folder. The 16-page format will provide much needed extra capacity for printing corporate magazines, consumer goods brochures and supermarket catalogs.

The M-600 system was chosen after Eclipse Colour Print surveyed the market to review the latest press options. "Technology moves so fast these days that you just don't just go back to the same supplier without surveying the alternatives," confirms Moore. "We found that the Goss M-600 press was not only best suited to our expansion plans, in terms of quality and flexibility, but also had added advantages in terms of cost of ownership."

To ensure that Eclipse Colour Print was aware of the entire cost of ownership of its new press, Goss International developed an 'all inclusive' package which included the price of the press plus all service and scheduled parts replacements for a five year period.

"Although Eclipse's market is buoyant, in today's environment the management team wanted to understand and control the ongoing cashflow impact of press ownership," states John Chambers, Goss International sales director for the UK and Ireland. "We provided a comprehensive package which allowed Eclipse to budget more accurately for the future."

"The print market is increasingly competitive," concludes Moore. "With our new press, we will be able to provide quality products to a wider audience with the added assurance of a totally transparent cost base. With this knowledge, we can continue to offer high value to our clients and still maintain our own margins. The initial move into web was a brave move, but we have never looked back."