Wallace Print Group invests in third digital flatbed

03 December 2012

Business

Kent-based Wallace Print has added an Oce Arizona 250 GT digital flatbed to its two Fuji Acuity Advance machines as part of a 100,000 investment.

Managing director Gary Wallace told PrintWeek that the acquisition was extremely significant because it meant the company was one of the "few printers in the UK" to have three flatbed printers of the same quality and capability under one roof.

"The output quality of these machines means we can challenge the litho market," he added.

According to Wallace, the company has invested in the new equipment, which is fitted with a reel-to-reel facility, to cope with Wallace Print's exponential growth.

He said: "This now allows us to print 100sqm per hour at near photographic quality direct to any substrate onto a sheet size of 2,490mm x 1,300mm. We will now be attacking the longer run market."

The Océ Arizona, which was installed last week, also offers a white ink option and will join Wallace Print's two existing Fuji Acuity machines also with white ink, digital reel-to-reel and kiss-cutting facility and a CAD cutting machine.

Wallace said that the new equipment would enable the company to retain the majority of its £250,000 annual print output in-house, and that he expected to see a full return on investment in 12 months. Turnover is expected to grow from £2.25m to £2.75m in the same period, he added.

"Capital investment plans for spring 2014 are in already in place with discussions with various suppliers, so it’s a very exciting time," said Wallace.

To cope with the anticipated growth Wallace has employed new general manager John Anscomb as well as an extra Mac operator to "avoid any bottlenecks" that may arise from increased output.

Wallace said the company was facing "a sea of opportunity" and new roles would be created in operations as and when required. "We are one of the few private sector printers to be continually recruiting with five new roles created in 2012," he added.

"We at Wallace are working incredibly hard, we’re continuing to be successful concentrating on very high client service levels with the foresight to adapt ahead of our competitors across emerging markets. Passion alone is no substitute for planning," Wallace said.