Managing director Baz Ogle took delivery of the wide-format digital inkjet printer shortly after launching his company in Milton Keynes, this March. He said he had considered the circa-£350,000 investment for six months before he committed.
EFI launched the Vutek GS3250LX UV-curing digital inkjet printer in 2011, as a "true breakthrough in high-speed super-wide inkjet printing technology".
It is vaunted as "a greener printing solution" that uses "cool cure" LED technology allowing the machine to consume less energy, increase printer uptime and reduce maintenance. The model is also available with regular mercury lamps.
"The standard UV versions can get quite hot but with these LED lamps there is less heat, less cooling time and a lot cheaper running costs. The LED technology also allows us to run thinner PVC and other materials without warping," said Ogle, who was a founder of nearby company Icon Graphics before starting his new business.
The new eight-staff company, whose customers include agencies for blue-chip clients, prints on self-adhesive PVC and foam-mix substrates for posters, displays and exhibition materials. Ogle said with the new investment he hoped to make a turnover of £1m in his first year.
"The main stand-out quality on the GS3250LX is speed; it runs at 90sqm per hour and can roll out an 8ft by 4ft foam display in under three minutes. I’ve used Vutek before and the print quality is unbeatable," said Ogle.
Other equipment at Format Graphics includes a Zünd 3m x 2m digital finishing machine and a 3m x 2m router.
Commenting on total sales for the GS3250LX since its 2011 launch, an EFI spokesman said that global figures were "healthy".
