Peterborough mailing and marketing firm set to invest £750k in job-creating machinery

It took two cranes to install the nine metres long press, which weighs 18 tonnes,into the factory of KJS, in Astore Park, Padholme Road East.

It will take about three weeks to complete the installation of the Sakurai LED UV colour press.

It is part of a £600,000 investment, which also included the upgrading of pre press equipment and software to support the purchase.

KJS also has further investment plans in place to replace some of its extensive finishing equipment with newer technology.

This is expected to take the investment to about £750,000.

Stuart Speechley, director of the £3million turnover company, said: “We are extremely grateful that we have great neighbouring businesses next to us as the road outside our building was blocked for nearly three days.

“They have all been very supportive and helpful which was great to see.”

KJS was created 18 years ago and has 20 full-time staff and one part time.

Bosses expect to recruit up to three more staff over the next 12 months due to the new installation.

Kevin Brown, joint director, said: “The new press will take the company to further heights.

“We’ve always been proud of our quality and service speed but the new press will step this up another few levels.

“We will be able to handle longer print runs with the added bonus of being able to process the jobs straight off the press without the need to wait for lengthy drying times.”

Among KJS’s portfolio of clients, which range from the financial sector through to small enterprises are many charity organisations.

Mr Brown said: “Having a press specially configured this way allows us to reduce production times from the press to the laser printers on to our automated fulfilment machines and out into the post.

Thus offering the client not only the superior quality of print and the turnaround speed, but also huge cost savings.”

KJS began operating out of two units on a small industrial estate in 1998, since then it has expanded into other neighbouring units giving complete control over the print and direct mail production process from start to finish.

KJS can offer print and direct mail runs of between one copy and one million copies, with an average print run of 20,000.

But with the latest development in technology at its disposal, KJS can also turn its hand to highly specialised print orders and offers a service that has been designed to capture every aspect of a client’s needs.

Mr Brown added: “As with all effective businesses, planning for the future is critical and, for KJS the issue is no longer whether to continue on its current steady path or aim to take the company to a new level. This new Sakurai LED UV press certainly takes the company to new heights.”