Solopress has invested over £2 million in Ricoh digital printing technology, becoming the first company in the UK to install the Pro VC80000 high-speed continuous feed inkjet press.
Solopress has confirmed a new collaborative agreement with Ricoh, marking the installation of the first Ricoh Pro VC80000 high-speed continuous feed inkjet press in the UK. The online print provider announced the dual investment in the latest inkjet and cut-sheet digital technology from Ricoh to support its continued commercial growth and service ambitions.
The hardware acquisition represents an investment of over £2 million for the printing company. Solopress states that this move will boost its digital print capacity by around 80 per cent while cutting the cost per page by approximately 20 per cent. The business expects the new equipment to strengthen its overall production capability and enable turnaround times at twice the speed of its next most efficient digital machine.
The Ricoh Pro VC80000 brings production speeds of up to 150 metres per minute to the Solopress production floor. The manufacturer equipped the system with artificial intelligence-driven automation and real-time print quality monitoring. Additional features include automated registration, predictive maintenance, and Firefly drying technology, which Ricoh says combine to reduce manual intervention and maximise uptime. Solopress notes that the technology will enable the company to fulfil highly demanding orders in a more streamlined way and generate new business opportunities.
Complementing the continuous feed investment, Solopress has also installed the flagship Ricoh Pro C9500 toner engine. The company will utilise this secondary press to efficiently fulfil short-run print jobs. Together, the dual deployment aims to futureproof production capability at scale and deliver immediate benefits for both trade and direct customers. These benefits include greater capacity, reduced lead times, enhanced colour performance, and faster speed-to-market across a broader set of applications.
David Farnsworth, Strategic Account Manager at Ricoh UK Graphic Communications, comments on the installation. He says, “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.”
Jack Clifford, Operations Director at Solopress, explains the operational strategy behind the purchase. He states, “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.”
Solopress has won the Vision & Values category at the 2025 Engage Awards.