A major investment programme of some £3.4 million is nearing completion at Polestar Colchester. This final stage sees the company trading up from a three-press to a four-press operation, with the installation of a 32-page Polyman press, and the relocation of the bindery to new 60,000 square foot premises. Polestar Colchester specialises in short-run, time-sensitive magazines mainly within the business-to-business sector. The increase in press capacity raises potential output by an additional one million magazines per week. All four presses are 32-page machines and are totally interchangeable, providing the production security that customers require. Managing director Jim Algar says: “The installation of a fourth press means not only can we offer an improved service to our customers, but it gives us extra capacity to handle more work, either from our existing base or through the development of new relationships.” The new acquisition, and the resulting increase in output, has meant that the bindery will be moved to new premises of 40,000 square feet, with a further 20,000 square feet extension being built. The extra space, just 200 metres away from the existing plant, is required to house a sixth stitching line and a fifth mailing line, as well as perfect binding facilities at a later date. “We require more space now to fulfil the increase in volume,” explains Algar. “The additional stitching and mailing lines housed in the new premises will help us meet these requirements, as well as extend our portfolio with perfect binding technology.” “This is a very exciting time to be at Polestar Colchester. Major investment here has been on-going for almost a year, and we are now nearing completion. Not only can we now boast one of the most modern and flexible plants in the industry, but the opening of new premises will provide opportunities in all areas of the business.” As part of the £3.4 million investment, programme, Polestar Colchester also benefited from a fully automated CTP plate line, which sits alongside the existing B1 devices. The resulting output has increased from 12,000 to more than 15,000 plates per month.