Benson Gateshead has purchased an eight-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 B1 format perfecting press for its packaging products.
The new press is capable of producing medium format sheets at speeds of around 18,000 an hour with a coating on one side of the sheet.
In addition, the press is capable of producing six colours and coatings on one side of the sheet, as well as two printing and coating colours on the reverse.
The company said that the reverse printing product is marketing under the name Benson Verso.
Benson Gateshead North East sites general manager Andrew Pybus said that the printed packaging continues to grow in its complexity.
"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 used for single-sided printing, and in the ability to print on both sides of the sheet in a single pass," Pybus added.
Benson Group managing director Mark Kerridge said: "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."
Benson Group, a privately owned printed folding carton supplier, produces packaging products for both the food retail and healthcare industries.
Image: Heidelberg Speedmaster. Photo: courtesy of Benson Group.
