A new addition has arrived on the Solopress production floor. The Ricoh Pro VC80000 is now being installed at our Southend-on-Sea site following several months of planning, and is expected to boost our digital print production capacity by a massive 80%.
This £2m+ investment focuses on increasing capacity and improving efficiency in key areas of our digital production. As demand grows, particularly for longer digital runs, it becomes increasingly important to maintain consistent quality while keeping turnaround times dependable.
Responding to growing demand
Demand for brochure printing continues to grow across our customer base, particularly for longer digital runs that require consistent quality and dependable turnaround.
These jobs often involve higher quantities, tighter deadlines and detailed artwork that must reproduce consistently from the first copy to the last. Meeting those expectations requires a production setup that can handle both volume and variation without introducing delays or inconsistencies.
The Ricoh Pro VC80000 has been selected to strengthen that capability. It allows us to produce longer digital runs more efficiently, while maintaining the standards our customers already expect from us.
Jack Clifford, Operations Director at Solopress, said:
“We have seen strong and consistent growth in brochure printing, so increasing capacity in this area was a priority. The Ricoh Pro VC80000 allows us to produce longer digital runs much more efficiently while maintaining the quality our customers expect.”
What the Ricoh Pro VC80000 brings
The Ricoh Pro VC80000 is a continuous feed inkjet press. Instead of printing on individual sheets, it prints on a moving roll of paper, allowing for uninterrupted, high-speed production.
It is capable of speeds of up to 150 metres per minute, with print resolution up to 1200 × 1200 dpi. This allows high throughput while maintaining sharp detail and consistent colour, particularly on longer runs.
The press is designed to maintain stable output over extended production periods. Its drying and temperature management systems help keep conditions consistent throughout a run, which is particularly important when handling designs with high ink coverage or fine detail.
This allows us to increase speed and capacity while maintaining the quality standards we already apply across every job.
David Farnsworth, Strategic Account Manager at Ricoh UK Graphic Communications, commented:
“Solopress is exactly the kind of forward-thinking production environment where Ricoh’s technology proves its value. The UK’s first VC80000 installation is a significant milestone, not just for Solopress, but as a demonstration of what modern inkjet production can achieve commercially. It also signals the trust in our solutions and the value of the services that we provide.”
From print to finished brochure in one workflow
The press is being installed inline with Hunkeler unwinding and finishing equipment including the Horizon Mark V Stitchliner. This creates a continuous workflow from print through to finished brochure.
As the printed roll moves through the system, it is cut, gathered, stitched and trimmed in sequence. This reduces the need for manual intervention between stages and helps maintain consistency across larger quantities.
It also shortens the time between printing and finishing, which supports more predictable turnaround, particularly for higher volume brochure work.
Increasing capacity where it is needed most
This investment is expected to increase our digital print capacity by around 80%. More importantly, it allows us to distribute work more effectively across our production departments.
More than half of our brochure output is planned to run on this new line once it is fully operational. By shifting this work onto a dedicated high-volume system, we can reduce pressure on other digital presses and improve overall workflow efficiency.
The result is additional headroom across production, helping to manage peaks in demand without compromising on turnaround or quality.
Preparing the team
Alongside the installation, members of our production team have been preparing to operate the new press.
Experienced press operators Tony Sullivan, Jim Wellard, Geoff Holliss and Darren Brown recently completed a three-day training programme at Ricoh’s UK headquarters in Telford. The course covered safety procedures, paper transport through the press, drying and cooling systems, ink management and on-screen controls.
This training ensures the team is fully prepared to integrate the new press into day-to-day production. As with any new equipment, it is the combination of technology and operator experience that determines how effectively it performs.
A carefully managed installation
Installing a machine of this scale is a detailed process. The Ricoh Pro VC80000 arrived in multiple sections, each weighing several tonnes, and required careful handling to position within the production space.
Specialist teams worked alongside our own engineers to unload and install the units with precision. Each section was positioned accurately to ensure alignment across the full production line.
At the same time, the surrounding workflow has been configured to support the new system, from material handling through to finishing and dispatch.
What this means for your print
As the new line comes online, customers will begin to see the benefits in how work moves through production.
It enables the introduction of 24-hour turnaround on A4 and A5 portrait stapled brochures, providing a faster option for one of our most in-demand products.
Other formats, orientations and paper stocks will continue to follow appropriate production timings due to drying and finishing requirements. However, the increased capacity benefits all digital print work by reducing pressure across the wider production schedule.
Looking ahead
The Ricoh Pro VC80000 is currently being installed and commissioned. Over the coming weeks, it will be brought into full production as testing and calibration are completed.
This investment reflects an ongoing approach to improving how we produce print. By increasing capacity and refining our workflows, we can continue to deliver consistent quality while responding more effectively to changing demand. Keep an eye on our Stapled Brochures for reduced lead times and premium quality print.
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