A local government contract has spurred Apple Litho (Bristol) to invest in a Heidelberg Linoprint C901 digital press. Already armed with £2 million of litho kit, the print company wanted to offer its customers an additional service for very short run and variable data printing contracts.
‘We explored the market and looked at equipment available but Heidelberg offered a competitive price without any of the smoke and mirrors on running costs,’ said Louis Bracey, managing director and founder of the 33 year old company.
‘We needed a machine that was beyond the basic £40,000 type system but we didn’t require the very high end £400,000 plus line either. With people asking for smaller and smaller quantities of print and with digital quality getting better and better it was the right time and the Linoprint C 901 was the right machine.’
The company is revitalising its website and refreshing the signage around its central Bristol location (adjacent to a canal and road where drivers have time to view it). It will promote its comprehensive services, using Apple Colour and Apple Digital as trading names for Apple Litho (Bristol).
The one off work that the company might previously have shunned can now be handled. Apple Litho envisages much of the digital work coming from existing users although it also believes having personalisation could open up new opportunities as well.
The Linoprint C901 will be housed in pre-press and staff there will run it, passing it through to the established finishing department for cutting, folding and/or stitching and despatch. This department also handles work from the company’s two B2 presses, a Speedmaster XL 75-5-P and a CD 74-4.
