Online trade-only printer, Flexpress, specialises in books, booklets, and manuals, as well as a large offering of presentation folders, business cards, posters, flyers, and folded leaflets.

During the pandemic, Steve Wenlock, managing director of the company, explains that the business was hit hard. In response to this, Flexpress took the opportunity to refine its approach and become more specialised in fewer products.

Wenlock explains: “We eliminated large-format work for example, and began to invest in areas we felt could add more value without the need to increase our headcount.”

This included the installation of a Morgana DigiFold Pro XL, a Horizon BQ500 PUR binder and 3-knife trimmer, three extra high-capacity collating towers for the company’s Stitchliner Mk3, a Moll Folder Gluer, a Renz AP 360 and Renz Mobi for wire-o binding, and a range of case-binding equipment.

According to Wenlock, the investment paid off and the company broke all its previous turnover and profitability records for the last five months of 2021.

Over the festive period, Flexpress also installed a new HP Indigo 100K digital press, and Wenlock explains why: “With a limited amount of space, and moving so expensive, we always look for opportunities to increase our capacity within the same footprint first.

“The HP Indigo 100K is effectively 50% more productive than the 12000 it replaces, but roughly the same size. It arrived while we were closed for Christmas on December 27th and was built by the time we got back on January 4th. Within the first week back we had our first jobs coming off it.”

Looking forward to the year ahead and the company has placed an order with M Partners for the UK’s first RMGT 970 LED-UV which will be arriving in summer. This piece of kit offers a slightly larger print area and advanced automation and will replace Flexpress’ current 920.

If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.