Buxton Press, the award winning magazine printer, has today confirmed an order to purchase two new eight colour long perfectors from Heidelberg, marking the start of a new rolling press replacement programme - and an historic new era for Buxton. 

In Hall 1, Kirk Galloway, Managing Director of Buxton Press shook hands with senior management from Heidelberg on the deal which includes two state of the art Speedmaster XL106-8-P machines, each with CutStar reel to sheet technology. 

Mr Galloway explains, "Five press manufacturers were invited to tender and after the first round of evaluations the listing was reduced to two potential suppliers, our incumbent German supplier, and Heidelberg. After further evaluations which included factory and user visits along with extensive print trials, we decided to place our initial order for two eight colour long perfectors with Heidelberg." 

Efficiency, speed and waste-saving dictated the overall specification of the new presses. The company was not constrained by cost and elected to run the market-leading and proven on-press spectral measurement device Inpress Control which automatically sets up and adjusts colour on the run - saving time and enhancing quality. The addition of the Autoplate XL affords rapid plate-changing and will further reduce make-ready times, positively contributing to the company's overall operating efficiencies. 

The lower cost of reels over sheets, coupled with the reduction in paper waste from cutting in line to the length required, was one factor behind the company's decision to buy CutStar reel to sheet technology. Buxton has always preferred the predictability of reel-feeding to minimise paper wastage and the elimination of pallets and plastic wrapping gives an additional environmental bonus. 

Buxton Press specialises in the production of small to medium run B2B periodicals and is a totally client focused business offering a one stop solution for its publisher clients - a provision which includes full on-line digital publishing solutions. 

Operating on a business model conceived at Stanford University Graduate School of Business has propelled Buxton ahead of the pack, producing exceptional performances in terms of fiscal control and lean production techniques as well as leading the company to become an unprecedented double winner of PrintWeek's coveted annual "Company of the Year" award. 

"We have long recognised we are a high volume high quality, commodity printer that requires the slickest production processes operating 24/7, 365 days a year. Having focused on the incredibly competitive UK magazine and catalogue sector, it is imperative we always run to maximum efficiencies" says Galloway. 

"We currently run six long perfecting presses from a German supplier, and by having a dual sourcing policy we now benefit from two world class manufacturers competing side by side -affording Buxton an enlightened platform from which to select our future technologies. We are very excited and very much looking forward to the installation of our XL-106-8-P presses and to cementing what I'm sure will be a long, close and equitable partnership with Heidelberg as well as continuing our strong, decade long relationship with our incumbent supplier."