Spectrum goes digital with Ricoh and pre-orders Heidelberg's latest MIS ahead of Drupa launch

The Heidelberg spend included replacing a manual Suprasetter 74 with an automated 75 machine to cope with increased demand. "We introduced 24 hour working back in July and have kept it going so we had to keep up with the plate volumes," said company director Karl Nicholson. The new platesetter is due to be installed next week.

The 33-staff company bought the Ricoh machine after seeing it at Heidelberg's Brentford showroom and Nicholson was impressed with the quality. "We just liked the look of it," he said, adding that clients now all use digital output, although personalisation is not something they are looking at for the time being.

"We also wanted some that could handle a range of stocks such as plastic," he said. "We have a client that does a lot of bunting."

The Ricoh digital press will sit alongside a Speedmaster XL 75-5 and an SM 74-6 and tying the systems together will be the latest version of Prinect workflow, to be upgraded with Heidelberg's Business Manager element once it is launched at Drupa.

The company has upgraded its workflow continuously and the latest update will install Prepress Manager and Pressroom Manager as well as staying true to Heidelberg for its MIS. "We've had Prinance since its launch," said Nicholson. "The thing we like about the Business Manager is the way it can automate a job from estimation right through to prepress."

He added that the current economic climate proved no barrier to financing the spend. "All the recession has done for us is enable us to grow bigger and stronger," he said. "Print runs have come down in size, into the B2 market, which suits us, and turnaround times are becoming non-existent."

The £3m-turnover business produces a range of commercial work such as brochures and local magazines and the 26-year-old company was bought out by Nicholson and his partner in an MBO nearly six years ago.