Joining Very Displays’ Dgen Papyrus Grande and Grande G5 3m-wide dye-sublimation presses, the Agfa represents the largest single investment managing director Simon Boswell has made since joining the business four years ago.

He told Printweek: “We looked at numerous machines, we had lots of print tests carried out to assess quality and we visited other Agfa printers to listen to their views on service and reliability. 

“We wanted to step back and look not only at the machine but the service agreement, ink charges, running costs, the whole package.”

Installed at the company’s 2,300sqm site in Market Harborough in mid-February over four days, the new press has allowed Very Displays to boost its fabric orders month on month since arrival.

Richard Haslett, the firm’s print manager, added: “What stood out [about Agfa] was their overall openness and honesty when providing information throughout all stages of the selling process.

“It was refreshing and convinced us to make the switch. We are very happy with our decision.”

The purchase itself was driven by customer demand. The fabric display market’s growth meant that Very Displays wanted to be “primed and ready” to supply its customers, according to Boswell.

Originally a supplier of event display hardware, Very Displays quickly added printed graphics to its offering when demand from customers became apparent; many of its customers, specifically, lack dye-sublimation capabilities, because of the specialist equipment required.

Very Displays employs 25 people over its production site and offices, and turned over £6m in 2022/23.