First two UK NexPress sites

The companies took delivery of the machines on September 17 and October 10 respectively and started producing commercial print work almost straight away.

Mark Clark, Heidelberg head of digital high volume, said the two firms had been chosen to join the Early Partnership Program (EPP) due to their “experience and success” with digital colour. “By Christmas we will have three more EPP sites and commercial orders start in January,” he said.

IGW first moved into digital colour in 1995 with one of the UK’s first Agfa Chromapresses. It runs three Xeikon-based digital web presses, as well as a Quickmaster 46 DI and litho machines.

“The quality is a step-change from anything we’ve previously been able to offer,” said chief executive Simon Harris. All but one of IGW’s digital webs will be “ousted in favour of sheetfed digital printing,” Harris added. “The only advantage web has lies in variable formats.”

Printflow also runs a variety of mono and colour digital print engines. Customer services director Richard Nixon said: “NexPress does have the potential to deliver on its promises, it’s the first digital machine I’ve had this feeling for.”
The 2100 will get its official UK launch at Ipex. Heidelberg aims to install 500 machines worldwide within a year.

UK list price will be £325,000. (Aus$937,000). The Australian debut of the NexPress 2001 is scheduled for Q2 next year.