Litho press finance
Four, five and eight colour sheetfed offset presses funded for trade and commercial printers, including relocation, rigging and coating tower upgrades.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a litho press?
Yes. Sheetfed litho is about as hard an asset as printing gets, and funders are comfortable taking security over a press on hire purchase. Second-hand presses are funded routinely — a well-maintained machine of fifteen years can still be a sound piece of security because the resale market is global. The trap is not the press, it is the move. Dismantling, transport, rigging and re-commissioning a multi-colour press is a serious bill and lenders vary on how much of it they will fund, so get the removal quote in front of us at the same time as the machine quote.
Used kit: Yes — used litho funds well and presses well into their teens are considered where impression counts, service records and a proper de-installation plan are in place.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a litho press cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
Underwriters like litho because the resale depth is genuine: a Heidelberg or Komori has buyers in Europe, Africa and Asia, and an auction result is easy to sanity check. That tolerance does not extend to the soft costs. Rigging, crane hire, floor slab work and electrical supply upgrades are either part funded or excluded, and once a press is bolted down and grouted it starts to look like a fixture rather than a chattel, which is why funders ask about your lease and sometimes want a landlord waiver. Declines tend to involve presses already dismantled and sitting on a pallet with no re-commissioning agreed, or a buyer with no litho history at all.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 | Large format sheetfed offset press for volume work |
| Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 104 | Mid range offset press with inline coating |
| Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 52 | Half size offset press for smaller commercial jobs |
| Heidelberg Printmaster GTO 52 | Small format offset press for short runs |
| Komori Lithrone G40 | Full size offset press for packaging and commercial work |
| Komori Lithrone GX40 | Advanced full size press with fast makeready |
| Komori Enthrone 29 | Half size offset press for general print |
| RMGT 970 | Wide format offset press with flexible sheet sizes |
| RMGT 790 | Mid size offset press for commercial printers |
| Manroland Roland 700 Evolution | Sheetfed offset press for demanding production |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Typically an established printer with a long-standing customer base, replacing a tired B2 with a later B1 because make-ready time is killing margin on shorter runs. Also a printer buying from a closure or a dealer clearance where the press has to be off site by a fixed date, and family firms handing over to the next generation who want current automation before they commit.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Litho press finance questions
Will finance cover taking the press out and moving it?
Sometimes in part, rarely in full. Riggers, low loaders, crane hire and re-commissioning are services rather than assets, so a funder has nothing to repossess if things go wrong. Some lenders will stretch to a proportion of it when the machine value is strong. Always price the move before you commit to the press.
I am buying at auction. Can finance be ready in time?
It can, but only if we start before the hammer falls. Auction terms usually demand payment within days and the lot is sold as seen with no warranty, which changes how an underwriter looks at it. Tell us the lot, the catalogue detail and your ceiling, and we can have approval sitting ready.
How much does press age matter?
Less than condition and impression count. A twelve year old press with a full service record and moderate impressions is often better security than a younger machine that has been hammered. Funders look at what it would fetch at resale today, and for major brands that number stays surprisingly robust.
Does the coating tower go on the same agreement?
Yes, provided it is on the same invoice and forms part of the press. Inline coaters, extended deliveries, IR dryers and logistics boards are all part of the machine as far as a funder is concerned. Separately bought bolt-ons can be added but may need their own schedule.
Is my landlord going to get involved?
Possibly. A press sat on its own foundation in a leased unit can be argued to have become part of the building, so a funder may ask your landlord to sign a short waiver confirming the machine stays yours. It is a routine document and most commercial landlords sign it without fuss.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.