Pensord Digital, a brand new arm of the award-winning Blackwood-based specialist magazine printer, is launching in the new year, equipped with the very first Heidelberg Linoprint CP (Commercial Production) digital press to be installed in the UK.

After 45 years as a leading magazine printing service, the company is venturing into the world of digital printing to give customers an even greater breadth of services and flexibility.

In typically pioneering mode, Pensord is taking this step with the UK’s first Linoprint CP digital press, which is supplied by Heidelberg UK.

Pensord has worked closely with Welsh Government through the Wales Economic Growth Fund on an investment package to help establish Pensord Digital in South Wales as a separate but wholly integrated arm of the group that takes it into digital production for the first time.

Operations director Karl Gater said: “Digital printing is something we’ve been investigating for a while, and we’ve done a great deal of research to find the technologies and the support we need to make this next step effectively and successfully. We are proud to be the first company in the country to install a Linoprint CP, and are extremely grateful to the Welsh Government for their backing and to the Minister of Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, who visited us last year and is a real ally.”

Having worked with Heidelberg litho presses over many years, Pensord chose the company as their partner in the new venture, installing a Linoprint CP, an advanced digital colour production system, capable of processing a range of printing materials, boasting versatility, scalability, and performance. The kit is ideal for small print volumes and variable data printing, workflow integration, and boasts the fastest printing speed in its class. An oil-free toner ensures optimum image quality.

Karl said: “In Heidelberg, we have the ideal partnership to get the venture underway. The digital print engine we’re investing in is the Heidelberg Linoprint CP, which will deliver high quality results in a fast production workflow. We’ve had a terrific relationship with Heidelberg over many years through our traditional sheet-fed work, and so turned to them to launch our digital production. We are working with CP Bourg and UK distributor Integra for our digital finishing requirements.”

Jim Todd, sales director of Heidelberg, says: “Pensord have been long term partners of Heidelberg for their litho presses and it is testament to their trust in us that they have elected to buy the first Linoprint CP in the UK as they make their first move into digital production. They know they are getting a machine that will give them the quality they require plus the advice, consultancy and support to maximise its potential.”