The Southend-on-Sea print firm has been a major user of HP technology for some time, and pivoted during the pandemic when it installed the world’s first HP PageWide T250 HD inkjet web press in 2020. 

Managing director Simon Cooper said that Solopress, which is owned by Germany’s Onlineprinters, was currently experiencing its “strongest performance at any time since the pandemic”.

He said the inkjet move had gone really well for the company, but Solopress had decided to hold back on earlier plans to install a second inkjet line last year because of the prevailing uncertainty at the time. 

“We are absolutely thrilled with the reliability and quality [of the T250] and we have learned how to process from reels to finished products. It’s the most productive part of the business,” he stated. 

Cooper said the firm would be looking at capex of some £3.7m this year, including printing, platemaking and post-press equipment.

“Instead of another T250 we opted for the 100K to increase our sheetfed capacity,” he explained. 

“We remain open to adding another inkjet line and will be assessing that later in the year.”

The new 6,000sph 100K joins four existing HP Indigo sheetfed devices: two 10000s and two 7800 models. 

Solopress is also using HP’s Print OS Site Flow workflow system. 

Cooper said the business, which employs around 180 staff, was aiming to return to pre-pandemic turnover levels with a goal of £30m sales this year.

This week also marks ten years since HP Indigo first introduced its B2 digital press offering. The manufacturer has installed more than 800 units since. 

HP has also announced that its new HP Indigo 15K digital press is now available worldwide, while the 100K gains a fifth colour station and Auto Pallet Replacement option for non-stop production. 

Haim Levit, vice president and general manager at HP Indigo, said the portfolio of products that would have been shown at Drupa 2020 had been “successfully adopted across all segments”.

“I’m incredibly proud we have achieved such a significant milestone for the business. This is a credit to the team and also to our customers in joining us on a journey to launch, refine and build a portfolio which supports true digital transformation,” he said.