Taylor Bloxham Moves Into Digital With KBA Karat

Taylor Bloxham Limited, one of the UK's largest family-owned sheetfed litho printers, is moving into digital with the June installation of a KBA 74 Karat direct imaging press.

Taylor Bloxham Limited, one of the UK's largest family-owned sheetfed litho printers, is moving into digital with the June installation of a KBA 74 Karat direct imaging press.

The Leicester (UK) company said its choice has been very carefully arrived at.

As far back as 1998 Taylor Bloxham surveyed the market for a digital press but decided that, at that time, there was nothing available to match the demands of its quality standards.

By 2003 the company was renewing its interest in a digital machine and watched the Karat's progress with interest.

By 2004 all competing presses had been reviewed in an exhaustive selection process leaving the 74 Karat as first choice that will see a top of the range machine installed complete with in-line coating and a sophisticated print on plastic package.

Wesley Sykes, operational development director for Taylor Bloxham is confident about his selection.

He said: "We believe the 74 Karat will meet our exacting requirements.

The press is a brilliant concept and will give us immense flexibility, delivering high quality print." Taylor Bloxham's sales and marketing manager, Kevin Moss agreed: "As a company, we consider ourselves, environmentally concerned and the Karat's waterless operation and its ability to reduce waste, was a major deciding factor in our decision." The 74 Karat will now work alongside the company's additional new 12-colour Heidelberg to replace older Speedmaster capacity and be the subject of a major autumn sales and marketing campaign.

The pride of place being given to the Karat, demonstrates how the press is central to Taylor Bloxham's future.

The company's boardroom is being demolished and moved to make way for a dedicated Karat pressroom and adjacent services area.

Training on the new machine also has the highest priority with a production team of five travelling to KBA, Radebeul for two week's of training plus another two weeks of post installation on-site training at Leicester.

Taylor Bloxham was founded in 1938 and is today the major company within The Print People Group which, together with sister companies C and R Printing Services and facilities management company Fastant employs over 200 staff and has a turnover in excess of £20million.

The group's product range includes magazines, catalogues, report and accounts, greeting cards and a wide range of high quality commercial print.

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