Choosing between digital presses in London is a different decision from choosing an office printer. A press is a production tool. It has to hit colour targets consistently, handle heavy and long media, finish jobs inline and keep running when a deadline is hours away. Get the specification wrong and you either pay for capacity you never use or turn work away.

This guide is for London print businesses, in-plant and reprographics teams in law firms, banks, universities and agencies, and marketing departments thinking of bringing print in-house. It explains the categories of press, what to consider before you choose, what drives the cost and why support close to hand matters more for a press than for any office machine.

Who needs a digital press?

• Commercial and quick printers producing brochures, leaflets, booklets, menus, invitations and short-run marketing
• Corporate reprographics producing pitch books, reports, court bundles, training materials and event packs
• Agencies and in-house marketing teams who need proofs and short runs quickly and confidentially
• Universities, colleges and membership bodies printing course materials, prospectuses and publications
• Businesses moving from an office MFP because volumes, media or quality demands have outgrown it

If your heaviest needs are occasional colour handouts, a high-volume office MFP may be enough. A press earns its place when quality, media flexibility, finishing and uptime become the deciding factors.

Light production, mid production and full production

Browse the ranges: Konica Minolta AccurioPress, AccurioPrint, Xerox PrimeLink and Xerox Versant.

At the entry end, Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C5080 series replaced the C4080 series in 2026. It comprises the AccurioPrint C5065, AccurioPress C5070 and AccurioPress C5080, at around 65, 71 and 81 A4 pages per minute, and adds intelligent media sensors that detect paper type, the IQ-601 quality optimiser for on-press calibration and colour consistency, and an optional inline trimming unit for full-bleed work. The AccurioPrint C5065 handles sheets up to 1,300mm long and weights up to 360gsm.

At the top end, Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14010 runs at up to 140 A4 pages per minute, handles media from 52 to 450gsm and sheets up to 1,300mm long, and is rated for very high monthly volumes. Most London print rooms don’t need that, but it shows how far the range extends.

What to consider before you choose

1. Your real volumes and mix

Measure monthly colour and mono volumes, peak weeks and how much is short-run versus long-run. Size the press for your busy periods without paying for capacity that sits idle the rest of the year.

2. Media

List the papers you actually use: weights, coated and uncoated stocks, envelopes, textured or synthetic media, banner lengths. Check the press handles all of them reliably, including from every tray you plan to use.

3. Colour management and controller

For brand-critical work, colour consistency from job to job and machine to machine matters. Ask about inline sensors and automatic colour calibration, and about controller options such as EFI Fiery or the manufacturer’s own controller, which affect workflow, imposition and colour tools.

4. Finishing

Inline finishing saves labour and reduces handling errors. Common options include stapling, hole punching, booklet making with trimming, folding and stacking. Booklet-heavy work often justifies a booklet finisher with face trimming on its own.

5. Space, power and environment

This is where London projects often run into trouble:

• Footprint: with feeders and finishers attached, a production press can be several metres long. Plan for operator access and paper storage too.
• Power: production presses often need a dedicated power supply, and larger models may need a specific electrical specification. Confirm the requirement with us before ordering, as building work can take time in a managed office.
• Heat and ventilation: presses generate heat; in a small basement or internal room this needs planning.
• Access: goods lifts, door widths, floor loading and building delivery rules all need checking before delivery day, particularly in Central London buildings.

6. Uptime and support

A stopped press means missed deadlines. Ask where the engineers are based, how they are trained on that specific model, how parts are stocked and whether the press is remotely monitored.

What does a digital press cost?

Press costs vary widely with model, configuration, finishing and volume, so any figure without your requirements is guesswork. As a broad indication at the time of writing, light production colour presses on finance often start in the several hundred pounds per month before click charges, with mid and full production presses ranging into the thousands per month. The click charge (cost per page) and the service level usually matter more over the life of the press than the finance payment.

If budget is the constraint, a pre-owned press can be a strong option. Our pre-owned digital presses page explains what is available, and our comparison of the Xerox PrimeLink C9200 and the pre-owned C9065 / C9070 shows how to weigh it up. For a Xerox comparison at the higher end, see PrimeLink C9281 vs Versant 280.

Why local support matters for a press in London

Office printers can wait a few hours for an engineer; a press running a client’s job often can’t. Scriptum is based at Canary Wharf with its own engineering team in London, covering Central London and the M25 region, with support across the UK. We supply and support Konica Minolta AccurioPress and AccurioPrint presses, and Xerox PrimeLink and Versant presses, from light production through to full production.

Typical problems we are asked to solve

“Our office MFP can’t handle the card weights and volumes we now need.” We look at whether a light production press, or a better-specified high-volume MFP, is the right step up.

“We outsource print but turnaround and confidentiality are a problem.” For law firms, banks and agencies, bringing pitch books and bundles in-house on a production press can give back control of both.

“Our press is old and downtime is costing us work.” We compare a new press, a pre-owned press and a refresh of the existing service arrangement on the same basis.

Digital press buying checklist

• Monthly and peak volumes measured, split by colour and mono
• Full list of media, weights and sheet lengths tested
• Colour management and controller choice agreed
• Finishing requirements specified
• Space, power, ventilation and access checked on site
• Click charges, service level and engineer location confirmed
• New vs pre-owned compared on total cost

FAQs

What is the difference between a digital press and a photocopier?

A digital press is built for production: tighter colour control, wider media handling, heavier duty cycles and professional finishing. An office photocopier (MFP) is built for general office printing, copying and scanning.

Can I lease a digital press?

Yes. Presses are commonly financed through lease agreements, and pre-owned presses can also be financed. We can set out the options for your business.

Which is better, Konica Minolta or Xerox for production printing?

Both make highly capable presses. The right choice depends on your media, volumes, finishing and colour requirements, so we recommend comparing sample output of your own work.

Do you supply digital presses outside London?

Yes. Our engineering team covers London and the M25 region directly, and we support customers across the UK.

Do you offer pre-owned digital presses?

Yes. See our pre-owned digital presses page or ask us what is currently available.

Talk to Scriptum about digital presses in London

Tell us what you print, how much and on what media, and we will recommend the right press and arrange sample prints of your own work. Call 0800 011 2858, email interface@scriptumds.co.uk, or use the form below.

Specifications from manufacturer information, checked October 2026; prices are broad indications only and exclude VAT. Check current specifications and availability with us before ordering.