Paul Jones, joint MD, WPG Group

Investment in this UV flatbed printer injects application diversity and greater throughput to the company’s wide format print department

CMYUK, Shrewsbury: Welshpool Printing Group (WPG) has purchased a Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX from CMYUK. The need to provide a greater diversity of signage in tandem with faster turnaround times were the twin drivers of this investment.

The new UV flatbed will join the company’s existing Mimaki printer that will continue to output graphics in the company’s wide format digital printing department.

“We chose this printer because of its quality, and flexibility. We were particularly impressed by the 2.5D textured printing capabilities, the ability to print on all surfaces, the white ink, and spot gloss features,” says Paul Jones, joint MD, WPG Group.

Established in 1960, Welshpool Printing Group Ltd is a family run business that has genuine pride in providing high-quality print with excellent levels of customer care. With a comprehensive range of services, the group offers complete print solutions to a wide range of customers including Litho and Digital printing, Banner & Signs, Vehicle Graphics, Promotional Products, Clothing & Workwear, Trophies, and Awards.

Mimaki, the perfect technology partner
The Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX features an 8ft x 4Ft table and incorporates several additional features and increased productivity to the JFX200 series. A new print head configuration means the JFX200-2513 EX doubles output speeds when printing with white in all print modes and includes a new draft mode that offers a 280% speed increase. It can automatically detect missing nozzles and perform recovery. It also uses an advanced algorithm to print optimum gradation patterns on each pass, significantly reducing banding effects on the print. A new foot pedal now controls the vacuum table, while Ethernet connectivity allows for remote job messaging and the simultaneous connection of multiple printers.

“We expect the new flatbed to have significant impact on our business. It will give us great new opportunities with design and texture. The high quality and added speed mean that we’ll be able to fulfil orders on an even quicker turnaround and the ability to offer new applications and products. When word gets out of what we can now produce – printing on acrylics, polycarbonates, PVC, glass, aluminium, metal, polyester, foam board, styrene, wood, and stone. We‘ll be kept very busy,” says Paul.

The company has made some slight alterations to its production facility to accommodate the new printer. It has also relocated its Trophies & Awards department to another section of the factory and created a new dedicated zone to its growing clothing and workwear department.

“WPG is no stranger to expansion, since moving to Printing House in Welshpool back in 1998, the factory size has increased greatly as both the company and product range has grown,” he says.

The CMYUK touch
Working with local company CMYUK has been a very positive experience.
“CMYUK has been a great company to deal with. We always like to support local businesses where we can, so its showroom in Shrewsbury was perfect for us. The whole team has been great, and very thorough in setting-up and calibrating the new printer. We take comfort that the support continues as we introduce different materials and experiment with the huge range of abilities this new printer is capable of,” says Paul.

The Mimaki JFX 200-2513EX is set to figure significantly in the company’s forward momentum. The business is looking to increase work turnover and the flexibility of the new flatbed will enable the company to explore new applications such as direct printing to doors and windows.

Says Paul: “The Mimaki JFX 200-2513 EX impressed us from the start. The speed and quality were exactly what we were looking for plus the flexibility it offers will make it perfect to handle growing demand. We can now print direct to 8 x 4 ft boards which will save us a great deal of time plus the huge choice of materials we can print to opens massive opportunities for even more products.”