Fretwell MBO team buy a Versafire EV for larger and faster digital print

Print Solutions

Fretwell Print & Design has made its first investment since the management buyout last September. It has bought a Versafire EV from Heidelberg.

Andy Gillett, who bought out the business with Gareth Pociecha, said: ‘We had a seven year old Ricoh which was due for renewal and we chose to go with Heidelberg because our whole colour workflow is from them and the Heidelberg digital front end will give us a great match. We will benefit from the larger 6 page A4 format, the ability to handle higher weight stocks, achieve better quality and run at greater speed.’

Fretwell, which handles work for a wide range of companies, will use PDF-VT format for personalisation of marketing material. The Keighley based company offers specialist direct mail services across a wide range of retail/financial and charity clients .

Andy and Gareth bought the company from Des Fretwell, Graeme Fretwell and Peter Denton last year as the former owners looked to retire.

‘We aim to increase our turnover in the next two to three years,’ continued Andy. ‘The Versafire will give us 20 to 25% more throughput than the press it replaces and, with the 50% increase in sheet size, that is a valuable first step to growth. We will win new work with this press but also extend the work we do for existing clients.’

In addition to its digital printing portfolio the company has two Heidelberg B2 presses – a Speedmaster XL 75-5+L with Inpress Control and a Speedmaster SM 74-4 perfector – and a full range of finishing kit.