The Impala 4, delivered on 20 February, has joined 3 Way’s earlier flatbed Impala 2 model, which it bought in 2017.
The new model was hoisted up onto the firm’s mezzanine level, a “heart in mouth” moment for the team, according to Oliver Tattersall, 3 Way Displays’ production manager.
He told Printweek: “The engineers came along to install, put it on a giant steel plate, and lifted it up to the mezzanine with a forklift, which was a nervous moment as they were doing it.”
Due to space constraints, the printer had to be installed on the mezzanine first, before the floor was subsequently expanded to give production staff room to actually operate the kit – if the floor had been expanded first, the new Impala would not have had room to physically reach the mezzanine.
“If we ever want to take it out, we’ll have to take the mezzanine down,” added Tattersall.
The new press represents a significant upgrade on its two-generation old relative: now boasting a resolution of 1,350dpi, up from the Impala 2’s 1,080, it can also reach 180sqm/hr productivity, and is fitted with LED UV lamps.
The lamps alone make a significant difference to daily operation, with significantly reduced energy consumption.
Most importantly for 3 Way Displays, however, is the extra colour channels of light magenta and light cyan, with white and varnish, which are necessary in replicating the nuanced shades of skin tones and demanding colours inherent in the firm’s primary industry, cosmetics.
"Accuracy in colour replication is vital for us," said 3WD's sales director, Olivia Stroud.
"With the Impalas’ capabilities, we're able to meet the high demands of the sector to produce visually stunning displays that give off a luxury feel."
Tattersall added: “[The Impala 4] really gives us the ability to achieve our customer demands, and think outside the box.
“We stuck with SwissQ[print] because we know the brand really well, we know how versatile it is, and how the machine can print on so many miscellaneous substrates. In the market we’re in, nothing’s very much the same: it’s different every day.
“So putting multiple substrates on the printer and getting consistent results is absolutely key for us.”
3 Way Displays employs 28 across the firm, with a production team of four busy on the print floor, putting together bespoke packaging and displays by hand, and with the help of its CNC and laser cutters.
Tattersall said: “We're not pushing out the same thing every day: every unit is bespoke, cut to size, and retrofitted, so it's very fun in that respect, as you’ve always got a challenge creating something that's never been made before.
“We've got a strong knowledge of materials and how to put things together. So we think that really complements our customers.”
