The family-run business offset a percentage of the £70,000 purchase through the government-backed scheme by taking on a new member of staff, Clifford Ward.

Andy Simpson, who runs the business with father Chris, said the Zund will help boost productivity and profits at the 11-staff company.

He said: "It is our policy to continually invest in our business to ensure that we grow year-on-year. With this in mind we decided it was time to purchase a new digital cutter that would further help us to boost our profitability."

Simpson said the machine would allow the firm to cut a wide range of flexible and rigid materials into any shape. something that would have previously been carried out by hand or outsourced.

"It is helping us save time and has enabled us to produce things we would not have attempted before as we can complete the process in-house," he added.

The Zund G3 platform, which has more than 13,000 installations worldwide, can handle substrates up to 50mm thick.

Commenting on his new role at the Fastsigns, Ward said the opportunity to work with new technology was a major draw.

"The Zund is an incredible machine. It’s an intense process learning to use the software on the computer, but once you’ve got to grips with it the results are unbelievable," said Ward.


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