history

1960's .....

Hunts Lithoprint Limited was set up as a printing company, based in The Broad, Oxford with the aim of supplying Oxford's university and business communities.

1970's .....

Hunts became an established printer with a reputation, and with it, demand for its services grew year on year.

1980's .....

A change of ownership in 1982 was promptly followed by Timon Colegrove (its now MD) joining Hunts as a trainee printer. The pace of change picked up with the company acquiring the remaining portion of the shared premises it occupied. This allowed room for the installation of its first A2 printing press (a Heidelberg MO-E) with all machinery having to be craned in over the four storey shops and offices of Broad Street.

1990's .....

An ever-increasing demand for Hunts services saw the company outgrowing its location. That, together with the planned pedestrianisation of Oxford, meant a move to larger premises was essential to secure its future.

Industrial premises on the Kings Meadow Estate in Osney Mead, Oxford was Hunts' next home enabling it to flourish, spread its wings and become a fully fledged commercial colour printing company. And then, investment in a new Komori 5 colour B2 press resulted in the purchase of a further building, 100 yards from the existing premises.

There followed investments in the further cutting-edge technology, such as CtP (Computer to Plate) negating the requirement for film and taking a major step forward in towards environmentally friendly printing. And then…….

The Floods .....

Osney Mead is conveniently situated in the flood plain of "The Isis"….. and flood it did. Twice in two years, resulting in 8 inches of water on the pressroom floor. In both instances trading continued and the effect of these "mini disasters" on clients was minimal. However the message was clear "move before it happens again".

2000's .....

Operating out of two business units, though only 100 yards apart, was awkward and inefficient for the demanding markets of the new millennium. So in 2003 one of the units in Osney Mead was sold and a new'ish 12,000 sq. ft. business unit in Kidlington acquired. At the same time replacing the 5 year old Komori with a brand new state of the art machine; a Komori 5 colour B2 + Anilox coating, drying unit, ink chilling, auto plate, auto wash and colour Spectrophotometric control.

Now, geared up for the future, on-going investments in on-line ordering, data transfer systems, digital print technology and a commitment to environmental best-practice continue to propel Hunts ahead in the business of printing in Oxfordshire.

2008....

Under the "people in print" banner, Hunts is now seen as a key provider of quality print, digital imaging and the highest levels of customer service.