Benson Box has announced that it has bought a Speedmaster XL 106, the new 18,000sph B1 press unveiled by Heidelberg at Drupa this week

Benson Box is part of the Benson Group. It is the first press purchase since managing director Mark Kerridge and commercial director Nick Benson led a management buyout of the company at the end of 2011.

Kerridge said: “Our first Speedmaster XL 105 marked a step change in performance with improvements in quality, makeready and running speed. Its 46 million sheets a year output has been matched by the second machine.

“With the various improvements on this latest model, the Speedmaster XL 106, we anticipate an even higher output still. The Bardon site already generates a £50m turnover but with this additional capacity could see further growth still.”

The machine is specified with six printing units running UV inks and a dedicated coater, which is a match for the two existing Speedmaster XLs, presses which have become the preferred choice of the Bardon plant, according to Benson. It replaces a competitor’s B1-format press.

Benson said that the press also features a Prinect Axis Control, a spectral measurement device that includes the ability to scan in and store company specific Pantone colours, which is ideal in a brand sensitive sector. Logistics, the automatic delivery of pallets to the press and removal of finished work pallets from the press, adds to the production efficiency and fits with the company’s focus on lean manufacturing.

“The spec matches the requirements of our particular markets and, being consistent with previous installations, continues to build on the site’s ability to respond flexibly to our very dynamic market place. The ability to produce any job on any press enables the site to print over 1,250 jobs each month,” explained Kerridge.

“For our customers it means we can deliver a world class performance, providing continuous improvement in quality, service and cost competitiveness. The continuous drive to deliver “more for less” to the consumer is even more important in the current economic climate.”