The wide-format specialist brought in a Durst P10 200 and a Durst Rho 312 to its 2016-acquired premises in November and December of last year.
The two machines replace a 2012-installed Durst P10 160 and a roll-fed Durst Rho 320 machine. Managing director Cyrus Norton said the P10 200 had doubled output and the Rho is at least 65% faster than its predecessor.
“The 312 gives us that extra bit in terms of resolution and as far as speed is concerned, it’s exceptionally quick. Previously we only had white under, whereas now we have white under and over. I see white as quite a big area, which we need to be involved in quite proactively," he said.
“It was pretty much always going to be a Durst refresh for renewal. Just by virtue of the fact that the operator learning time would be nominal as these are systems they already know. I think it has already had an effect on production in terms of some of the jobs we’ve had, the throughput is a lot faster, it’s a lot more refined.”
Intended for the indoor and outdoor signage, backlit displays and luxury goods, the four-colour P10 200 prints at up to 205sqm/hr at a resolution of 1,000dpi. It has UV-curable pigment inks for interior and exterior applications.
The 3.2m-wide roll-to-roll Rho 312 features Durst’s Quadro Array 12M printheads with Variodrop technology. It prints at a top speed of 240sqm/hr at a resolution of 800dpi and can print two 1.6m rolls of media at the same time with individual print queues.
Digital Factory initiated the spending programme when it moved into its new 610sqm premises in Farnborough, Hampshire last March, relocating from a 420sqm premises around eight miles away. Since then, other than the Dursts, it has kitted the new site out with a Striebig panel saw and a Fotoba cutter.
The building cost around £900,000 with the rest of the spend going on the Dursts, the extra kit and building works.
Norton said: “Our previous building was a bit of a labyrinth. It was brilliant, good for our staged growth at that point, but it was becoming unworkable as far as being a dynamic space. The new building is more flexible and accurate as to what production requirements we have on at a time.”
15-staff Digital Factory also runs a Kongsberg XP 44 cutting table, an HP Latex 570 and two vinyl cutters.
It is aiming to double its £2m turnover by 2021, although Norton added that there is a way to go yet.
“Turnover is one of those figures that is probably not the best thing in terms of chasing the glory,” he added.
“There is lots of work between now and then, through commitment to staff and training, to be able to get there in a measured fashion.”
