The kit was installed in April and May at C3’s facility in Liverpool and its Pontypool base, which it shares with sister company Zenith Media.
It now has two HP Latex 1500 roll-to-rolls and two R2000 flatbed hybrids, with one each at Liverpool and Pontypool. A Flexa Formula laminator has gone to each base and a Zünd G3 3XL 3200 cutting table was installed at Pontypool.
Sales director Nick Kapp said: “We have replaced some older equipment that was still good, but our ambitious targets for growth alongside the rest of the group have outgrown what they can do. This gives us more flexibility and capacity at a higher quality.
“Key to taking on the machines across both sites was the consistency it gives us across the group, allowing us to produce the same projects from both bases. HP demonstrated the best overall package for us when we considered all the options in the market.
“Clients can enjoy services from more reliable machines and adaptability in the number of materials we can print on to. They have more options across the group than ever before – Zenith can now print everything from business cards to building wraps.”
The 3.2m-wide HP Latex 1500 prints at speeds up to 74sqm/hr. C3 will use its water-based ink technology to produce applications such as outdoor and event banners, self-adhesive vinyls for vehicle, floor and window graphics, backlit film, papers for point of purchase, posters, wall-coverings and window blinds, canvas, and mesh and porous textiles.
Using the HP Latex R2000 hybrid roll/flatbed system, which prints at speeds up to 88sqm/hr with a 2.5m print width, C3 will make the most of white latex inks to print on a variety of rigid substrates such as foamboard, wood and glass, as well as roll substrates such as PVC, vinyl, coated paper and textile.
Kapp said large numbers of the firm’s customer base operated in the retail space, though C3 also carries out a number of jobs for museums, galleries and exhibitions. Its new raft of kit, supplied by Crawley-based dealer Papergraphics, will enhance its offering to these markets.
C3 Imaging also has bases of operations in London and Colchester – with the Colchester production unit running B2 litho, as well as large- and small-format digital. The company employs around 49 members of staff.
The wider Zenith Print Group, headquartered in Treforest, Pontypridd, also comprises Zenith Media and Zenith Print & Packaging, spanning Pontypool and Pontypridd, as well as the three further bases solely dedicated to C3 operations, though C3 and the Zenith companies regularly work together on jobs.
Zenith has been undertaking an extensive spending spree in recent years, most recently with a triple investment in Heidelberg Versafires, a Stahlfolder and a UV/conventional hybrid Speedmaster.
