Leicester-based printing firm Flexpress is gearing up for expansion in 2025 by purchasing a second Multigraf CF-375 creaser folder, upgrading their Duplo DBM-600 to the latest DBM-700 with square spine and securing an additional 465sqm of space in a next-door neighbouring unit during the holiday season.
According to managing director Steve Wenlock, the changes will help the business to keep moving forward. “A new Duplo Multigraf CF-375 creaser/folder and an upgraded DBM-700 booklet maker with square-back binding capabilities were brought in ahead of the busy pre-Christmas season. We simply had pallets and pallets of greetings cards that needed to be finished and the CF-375 just does the job well, so another Multigraf CF-375 was added in December replacing an older creaser/folder.”
“The Multigraf has been a fantastic addition. Its user-friendly interface allows almost anyone to produce high-quality results, which is why we decided to invest in a second machine.”
He also highlighted the potential of the DBM-700, which enables the creation of flat-spined stitched books with up to 200 pages. “Although we haven’t heavily marketed the square-back binding service yet, we’ve already seen strong interest from customers. We’re planning to focus on educational projects for the square-back feature in the coming months,” he added. And to top it all off, Steve pulled the trigger on his long-awaited expansion into new premises. “Expanding into the neighbouring premises was a real motivating start to the New year,” Wenlock shared. “I’m the kind of person who thrives on a challenge and like to keep things moving forward.”
Although originally planned for April 2024, the expansion plans were put on hold when the neighbour needed more time to move out. “We finally got the keys the day before we broke up for the Christmas holiday” added Wenlock. “We saw the opportunity to utilize the quieter New Year period to get the ball rolling. Typically, however, the normally quieter January proved to be our busiest ever so we’ve approached it in two phases,” he explained. “Initially, we’ve relieved the space constraints in our current facility. Then later, we’ll fully integrate and grow into the new unit. It’s exciting to have a new project to sink our teeth into.” With the expansion, the business now has approximately 1,100sqm of operational space.
Flexpress, which utilizes an RMGT LED-UV 920 SRA1 press and an HP Indigo 100k for much of its production, employs 26 staff members at its Leicester site. The company achieved a turnover of £3.9m in 2024, reflecting a 14% increase from the previous year.
“We’re optimistic about the year ahead and should comfortably achieve £4.5m in 2025,” Wenlock said. “The market always has its challenges, but with the additional space, new equipment and some exciting new products on the horizon, we’re well-positioned to keep moving forward.”
