Both supplied by Canon, the UV flatbed printer with the Roll Media Option was installed in late March while the Zünd cutter followed in May.

Bradford-based Claremon reorganised its existing factory space to make room for the new, additional kit, which it said would enable it to expand into the B2C market and sell high-end print products directly to the public through its website. The company had previously been outsourcing much of its larger scale work.

Claremon managing director John Conroy said that while the business looked at a number of alternatives, “Canon was the only choice for us”.

The eight-channel Arizona 1380 XT, which operates at speeds up to 52.8sqm/hr, runs CMYK plus two-channel white, or white and varnish, plus light cyan and light magenta.

“We were looking for a machine that was as versatile as possible and the Arizona, with the roll media add on, ticked all the boxes,” said Conroy.

“In the long-run the Arizona will help us to improve logistics and save vital time – ultimately helping us to get products to customers quickly and efficiently. Through new revenue streams, we also anticipate a growth in profit in the near future.”

The new wide-format kit has joined existing machinery at Claremon including a five-colour Komori Lithrone S29 B2 litho press and a Xerox Versant digital printer. The business also offers a wide range of finishing services in-house, with lamination outsourced.

The Arizona has helped the 20-staff firm to develop ‘campaigns on demand’ that incorporate litho and digital printing into personalised pieces, such as bespoke wallpaper and instructional graphics and signage to help businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

In 2018 Claremon took on the assets of its Bradford neighbour Wheelden Print as the latter went into voluntary liquidation due to a shortage of funds.