Richard Kyte led a team of three from McLays to drupa 2012 where the more than EUR 20 million turnover company signed to buy a Speedmaster XL 106, its second B1 XL machine but the first with Inpress Control automated colour and register adjustment. 

"Our Speedmaster XL 105-6+L has clocked up 350 million impressions in six years and is still outputting top quality results. This press exceeded all expectations in terms of productivity; it is a beast of a machine. We don't believe any other manufacturer can match the productivity and reliability of the XL technology. This latest five-color machine with coating unit will allow us to handle existing capacity more cost-effectively and flexibly. We believe it could add 40% productivity compared to the Speedmaster CD 102 it replaces. The Image Control on the first press reduced makeready times by 50%; we believe Inpress Control will cut a further 20% off the set up and reduce waste." 

The company has also specified AutoPlate Advanced, a fully-automatic plate changing device, and has ordered from technotrans a reverse osmosis system to take away any variables in the water for the fount and ink pumping which will supply both presses, meaning less operator effort, mess and housekeeping and bringing a cost advantage in being able to buy at bulk ink prices. Developments that McLays are happy to see introduced on the Speedmaster XL 106, which was launched at drupa, includes a 30% reduction in wash up times and the ability to set up the next job while another is still running.

"Heidelberg had a very impressive stand," says Richard Kyte. "The new PFX feeder on the Stahlfolder is one development that has really caught my eye. It makes us consider updating our folder technology because I can see that it would bring a significant increase in productivity." With Richard Kyte were Mark Vaughan and Paul Taylor of McLays. The Cardiff company offers a comprehensive range of litho and digital printing services, mailing and fulfilment services.