Benson Gateshead makes biggest ever press investment with Heidelberg

The configuration of the machine means that the press can produce medium format sheets at speeds of up to 18,000sph in up to eight colors and a coating on one side of the sheet, or up to six colors and coating on one side of the sheet plus two color printing and coating on the reverse.

The reverse printing product offering is to be marketed as Benson Verso.

Andrew Pybus, general manager of Benson Gateshead, said: ‘This is the largest investment that the group has made on a single press, and we are looking forward to its arrival here in the North-east in 2014.

‘Printed packaging continues to grow in its complexity. Customers seek to gain the maximum marketing potential from their cartons. We need to stay ahead of the game and this press will give us additional capabilities, both in the number of printing units that can be utilised for single sided printing, and in the ability to print on both sides of the sheet in a single pass’

Jim Todd, sales director of Heidelberg UK, said: ‘Benson Group has recognized the strength of the Speedmaster XL product and with this configuration for Gateshead has created a clever solution that enables them to offer something different to the market and to broaden the appeal of their packaging solutions.

‘This is a very unusual Speedmaster XL 106 with a print-coat-perfect-print-coat configuration. It can offer eight colors straight or six-back-two and with coating on both sides. Packaging with information or marketing material inside the box is a growing trend, and Benson Group, as usual, have been quick to equip themselves to meet this need.’

Mark Kerridge, managing director of Benson Group, noted: ‘Our three most recent investments in Heidelberg presses for our Bardon operation have given us a performance edge, and our customers have been delighted with the results. The reliability of the equipment, coupled with the back-up service from Heidelberg, has helped us to produce more printed sheets than ever before. We look forward to more of the same from this latest investment.’