For the purpose of expanding its short-run digital offering, Micropress plans to invest over £1 million in developing its facility.
The company has submitted a planning application for the factory expansion, which will occupy the area now used by its 1,500 sqm paper warehouse and 6,500 sqm factory. Rob Cross, director of Micropress, stated that the company intended to fully overhaul its digital printing unit.
Micropress had a celebration when it showed off its current facilities and highlighted its expansion plans for clients and partners.
Rob Cross said, “The factory extension will be 1,600sqm and the build cost will be in excess of £1m. We intend to set up a new digital ‘super site’ expanding our short print run offering. It will also give us space to grow our litho manufacturing plant further as well as offering more warehousing and distribution for clients.”
Three toner-based digital presses are presently used by Micropress. These are a Heidelberg Versafire, a Xerox iGen 150, and a Xerox Nuvera EA120 mono device. A variety of digital presses, such as sheetfed and roll-fed inkjet, are now being evaluated by the company.
James Cross, a fellow director, said that a project was in progress to assess the efficiency and cost of ownership of several digital printing engines. “It’s a complex process because of the different ways digital press manufacturers charge for things. When we decide what to put in the new extension that will be a further substantial investment,” he noted.
“We think about what we can offer that customers aren’t always getting elsewhere. And we want to focus on what we do well. The market is evolving and we want to become your go-to printer,” Rob Cross added.
To keep up with the new printing firepower, Micropress built a highly-specified 18,000sph ten-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL106 earlier this year as part of a £3.75 million investment that also includes a Stahl TH 82-P high-speed folder with Palamides delivery and a robotic P-Stacker.
During a tour of its factory, which has a huge solar panel installation on its roof, visitors got to see the press and folder in operation.
A factory humidification system was also recently purchased by Micropress, and in the near future, a new voltage optimization system will be implemented.
Cross said, “It basically optimizes the voltage coming into the building taking out the ‘spikes’ so you use the voltage as efficiently as possible. The total investment for us including the install is around £100,000. It should give us a 6% saving on our energy so it’s a no-brainer.”
Cross stated that the company, which has 172 employees, is on track to make £26 million in revenues this year.
He claimed that trade printing services for SME printers that were outsourcing production, as well as work for book publishers, were two growth areas.
He also highlighted the value of profitability and made sure that through incentives and performance-based pay plans, all of the company’s employees shared in its success.
Cross stated that they try to obtain buy-in and take care of their personnel. They had the same goal for 40 years: to be successful so they can reinvest in the company. Profit shouldn’t be seen negatively.
Mark Mwebe, an intern at Micropress, was named Trainee of the Year at the Printweek Awards in addition to the company being named 2022 Company of the Year.
The family-owned business was founded in 1979 by Mike Cross and relocated to its facility and nine-acre location in 2011.
Micropress produces books, catalogs, magazines, and other commercial print work for a wide variety of clients, including print managers, other printers, and end consumers. In an effort to constantly improve its product, it also provides warehousing and pick-and-pack services.
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