Black Lion Press has invested in a Fujifilm Revoria Press SC285S to bring more work in-house, improve colour capability and strengthen production control.

The Maidstone-based commercial and large format print specialist, established in 1981, now produces around 90% large format work for customers including hospitals, councils, theatres, retail fitouts and local businesses. The seven-strong company operates from a single site.

The Revoria Press SC285S replaced Black Lion Press’s previous production press, following rising running costs and reliability issues.

“Our previous machine was out of contract, but we kept producing on it, so it was probably costing us three times the amount of what we’re paying on the Revoria,” said Mark Stokes, director of Black Lion Press.

After visiting Fujifilm’s demo centre in Luton, the company chose the Revoria for its robustness, pricing and fifth colour capability.

Mr Stokes said: “I liked the capabilities of the machine, especially what it could do with the additional colours. Some alternatives didn’t feel as robust as we needed for day-to-day production. We needed a machine that’s sturdy enough and can do the task.”

Although Black Lion Press remains predominantly a CMYK printer, the fifth colour option has already helped the company handle more specialist colour work in-house. One customer required Pantone 021 orange, previously produced as a litho spot colour even on short runs. Using the Revoria’s pink toner and colour profiling, the company was able to reproduce the colour digitally.

Mr Stokes added: “We did not have five colour capabilities with our previous setup, which meant we were relying on trade printers. That sometimes meant the quality wasn’t great and delayed the turnaround, which put pressure on our schedules. With the Revoria, we’re able to keep all our costs in-house and get a good final result.”

The investment was facilitated by Colyer, with Fujifilm providing demonstrations and technical support.

Spencer Green, head of print-on-demand UK, Fujifilm, said: “The Revoria Press SC285S gives them the flexibility to handle short runs, tight turnaround work and specialist colour requirements, all while keeping quality and production in-house.”

Jonathan Lyons, sales director at Colyer, added: “The Revoria Press SC285S was a natural fit for Black Lion Press. We’re proud to have supported them in their investment and decision-making process and look forward to continue working with them as their business develops.”