16 January 2015

Kingfisher Print & Design install new machinery for growth

The installation both caps one of the most successful years in the 30-year-old company's history and prepares for a next phase of growth. Along with the press, the Totnes company installed a Kodak Express early last year and ROI360 web to print application more recently. It has also worked with MIS provider Shuttleworth to customise the view it receives over information in the database.

This has been instrumental in the achievements of 2014 says managing director Ross Bellotti. "It's fair to say 2014 was a pretty good year for us all here at Kingfisher Print & Design as overall sales were up 7%. Our biggest achievement has been in growing sales and reducing costs simultaneously. We have achieved this by reducing waste and developing more robust processes for taking on the right type of work for us; making us more efficient and doubling our net profit."

Sales in the 36 strong business have moved beyond £3.7 million even before the investment in the £1 million press.

The new Speedmaster XL75 will shave two minutes from each make ready and is predicted to deliver an annual saving of £60,000. It is fitted with Inpress control and Autoplate plate changing. The company has been a Heidelberg customer through a previous XL75 and HUK managing director Gerard Heanue comments: "After working with Kingfisher Print for a number of years we can confidently state that it is a great example of a business which has a clear strategic vision - the board of directors have a comprehensive plan of where they want to grow their business, and how to achieve this."

That has included replacing a first generation web to print system with the ROI360 solution and tailoring this to work with estate agents that make up a strong proportion of the work. The plan is to use this to drive personalised direct mail campaigns.

Bellotti adds: "Web to print is not just for ordering business cards and letterheads - we have been pushing ROI360 by writing queries to get the very most out of the data available, ensuring the campaigns we are producing for our clients are as targeted as they possibly can be. Exciting times are ahead as more and more of our clients are seeing the value and return in using personalised print."

ROI360 director Simon Ellington adds: "Kingfisher is one of those companies that has taken the Rightmarket data solution, working with their customers to identify clients and drive direct mail. Their customers can come on through Storefront to order print. The company has a real focus on innovation."

In March 2014 the company installed a NexPress S3000, the version of the Kodak digital press with provision for printing on longer sheet, and to print the personalised work for the estate agency chains. It is also working with other multi-site businesses, franchise operations and print management companies.