Meet the Heidelberg Windmills: Our Faithful Workhorses
The Heidelberg Windmill is the superhero of the printing world, revered for its reliability, precision, and, frankly, its never-ending endurance. Built in the 1960s, these German-engineered marvels are the heavyweights of letterpress printing. Even now they are widely used in commercial print businesses for die cutting and creasing, due to their longevity and reliability.
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• Ink On Paper: The Original Heidelberg Windmill Our ink Original Heidelberg, lovingly kept in its original form, is the epitome of printing prowess. It’s the one that provides those crisp, tactile impressions that letterpress is known for. Using photopolymer plates, we bring your contemporary designs to life with a delightful depth and texture that you can’t help but run your fingers over. Want to see that famous ‘kiss’ of ink on your bespoke stationery? This is the press for the job. |
• The Shiny Side: Our Foil-Converted Heidelberg Our second Heidelberg was given a modern twist—we’ve converted this trusty beast to handle hot foiling. With a little bit of clever engineering, we’ve equipped it to apply gleaming gold, silver, or even holographic foils using copper dies. This means your wedding invitations, business cards, or anything else you fancy can be turned into a showstopper with a flash of metallic brilliance, plus it works fabulously on colourful card and paper. |
How Did we Find Them?
Way back in 2010, fairly soon after the shop was opened, we were befriended by to wonderful community of letterpress printers in the local area. Simon Smallwood, an incredible press operator, wood turner, wine master and owner of a stunning vintage Rolls Royce, was integral to our letterpress love. From quickly learning the basics on some tabletop presses with him, we also had a day of training with Richard Lawrence on the Original Heidelbergs, then took the plunge.
To acquire a press I placed a post on a letterpress forum website. Soon after I received a response and we purchased the first press. When it was a mile away from being delivered, horror struck and it fell over on the lorry, almost falling off it! With each one weighing in at just over a ton, it was a rather stressful moment. Thankfully, there was no damage to the press - due to their hardy nature and incredible toughness.
With all this dirstraction I forgot all about the advert I had posted and left it up. Within the next month I was approached about a second Original Heidelberg in need of a home. I explained that we had already acquired a press, however, if we didn't purchase they would be scrapping it as they needed it gone asap. And thus, OH number two joined the Met Ink crew. I then removed the advert, as we had no more funds or space for a third!
How Do the Windmills Work? A Dance of Precision
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to witness a Heidelberg in full swing, you’ll know it’s like watching a beautifully choreographed dance. The “Windmill” nickname comes from the paper-grabbing arms that rotate in a circular motion—very much like the sails of a windmill. It’s truly mesmerising, and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to still use these machines.
Our Press Operator is trained to know all the ins and outs of the press, from daily care and oiling to the detailed operation. There are a huge array of tweaks and things you can control about the press, with the majority of the work in the set up of the print run.
The majority of the printing we do is contemporary letterpress, meaning we print to create a deep impression. To do this we use polymer plates with a chase base. this gives us the freedom to create utterly bespoke designs for you - from detailed illustrations to calligraphy and more.
• Fun Fact: The Original Heidelberg can print up to 5,000 impressions per hour. It's a super fast beast!
Why Choose Letterpress Printing for your Bespoke Project?
So, why all the fuss about these vintage machines? Quite simply, it’s about quality. Letterpress printing with an Original Heidelberg creates consistency and texture that other presses can't compete with. The result? A luxurious, tactile experience that just can’t be replicated by modern digital printers.
• Textured Impressions: Unlike flat printing, letterpress creates an physical impression you can feel. Imagine running your fingers over your name, beautifully pressed into a thick, luxurious card. It’s a detail that speaks volumes.
• Foil Finishes that Shine: With our foil-converted press, we can add that extra layer of ‘wow’ to your stationery. Whether you’re after a touch of elegance or a bold statement, our hot foiling process delivers.
• Huge Choice of Card Options: Unlike flat or digital printing, letterpress printing on an Original Heidelberg can print on almost any card your heart desires and at a huge array of thicknesses. From incredibly light 90gsm right the way up to 1050gsm and beyond.
• Freedom of Design and Style: Using polymer plates means we can create the exact style that you desire. You wont be restricted to metal or wood type, instead we can use any typeface your heart desires, illustrations, motifs, logos, monograms or calligraphy as part of the design.
Did You Know?
• Keeping You Safe: Original Heidelbergs are fitted with a safety guard, which stops you from leaning too near the arms of the press as they spin round. When it's raised the press won't work, to stop you being in the danger zone!
• Masters of Multitasking: These presses can print, emboss, die-cut, and perforate, often all in one pass. Not too shabby for a machine that’s been around since the Beatles were topping the charts.
• Forever Young: Despite their age, Original Heidelbergs are still widely considered the best in the business. They’re basically the Dick Van Dykes of the print world—spry, nimble, and always up for another dance.
A Love Affair with Letterpress
For us, it’s not just about getting ink (or foil) on paper; it’s about creating something that feels special, unique, and wonderfully bespoke. Our presses aren’t just machines; they’re partners in creativity, helping us craft everything from elegant wedding suites to bold business cards that leave a lasting impression.
Need some Heidelberg magic on your next project? Let’s chat about how we can bring your ideas to life with the utter beauty of letterpress. Whether it’s with deep ink impressions or a touch of metallic glamour, we’ve got you covered.