Variety is often said to be the spice of life. If true,  Maidstone-based Speedscreen is a uniquely tasty concoction. Although traditionally a screen printer, as its name suggests, the business has benefited from the recent advances in wide-format technology. That is not to say that its future is purely digital; this display graphics printer has its fingers firmly placed in many pies and has no plans to change that just yet.

"I know plenty of people talk screen printing down, but I just don't see it. Our screen department is busier than ever," says Tim Hill, managing director of Speedscreen. While, admittedly, the majority of that work is line colour jobs, Hill has a fervent enthusiasm for the aging technology. He says that no other process can come close to competing with screen for "bold solid gloss UV colours".

But as passionate as Hill is about the company's screen printing setup, he is equally proud and passionate about its digital armoury, one that has recently been boosted by a £460,000 investment in a Durst Rho 800 Presto.

The company's largest investment to date, the 2.5m flatbed and roll-to-roll printer, has made such an impression on the 16-staff company that Hill says it will add £750,000 to its turnover. And that's running it only four hours a day.

"We firmly believe this is the best hybrid machine on the market, with superior build quality and reliability," he adds.

Humble beginnings
Speedscreen was established in 1986, when Hill and then business partner Mike Dougal (who has now left the company) became self-confessed "refugees" after being made redundant from outdoor poster giant London & Provincial Group. The two pooled £5,000 of redundancy money to start their own business based around hand bench-screen print equipment and a group of other ex-employees that joined them from the previous company.

"We had clients like Safeway and we handled all their point-of-sale materials," says Hill.

Although the business got off to a flying start, thanks to a combination of service and quality, staff had to work all through the night on the antiquated benches to meet deadlines. "Clients thought we operated from an impressive smoked-glass and chrome building, I'm sure of it. In fact, it was a Dickensian rabbit warren in Kent," says Hill.

Fast-forward 23 years and, while technology has moved on, the appreciation for the printing process remains the same. Hill believes that screen and digital are entirely complementary processes that allow for a level of flexibility that benefits the company's largely trade customer base.

"It is often a toss-up whether we screen print a job or digitally print it, depending on quantity and capacity," he says.

It is the synergies that exist between the technologies that have led the £1.35m turnover Speedscreen to continue investing across its fleet of equipment. But, according to Hill, for all the money ploughed into printing kit, it is its Kongsberg iXL44 cutting table that has proved to be one of the best buys in the company's history.

"The fact that it will rout perspex and diabond, then cut and crease corrugated board or kiss-cut vinyl has meant the amount of finishing work we now sub-contract has diminished massively."

Hill is aware that the host of recent investments could be considered foolhardy by some companies. "My philosophy is simple: while all the others are locking down, we are out there getting good deals from manufacturers and good deals on finance and when it all kicks off later this year, which it will, we will be well placed to react and reap the rewards," he says adamantly. Hill also believes that the current economic climate is helping to get rid of some businesses that are having a detrimental effect on prices within the sector. "We need more of the flaky companies to fall away, there are such silly prices out there just now, it is tiresome," he adds.

When the market recovers, Hill expects it will drive the company's growth to the £1.8m-£2m turnover mark. To achieve this, the business has already agreed to acquire a new unit to expand its current site to 1,300m2 and a fourth screen printing line is being mooted to add more capacity.

"We want something that can print 2.6x1.5m. Just a one colour machine will do, with UV drying. I am keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal."

Hill seems determined to add to his growing range of spices and far from being overpowering, the signs are that variety, for this printer at least, is a recipe for success.

SPEEDSCREEN FACTFILE
Managing director Tim Hill
Established 1986
Location Maidstone, Kent
Staff 16
Turnover 1.35m
Clients Trade
Kit Durst Rho 800 Presto, 3 screen printing lines, Kongsberg iXL44 cutting table, Roland X540 eco-solvent printer/cutter, Seal laminator