The LEJ-640 S-Series belt printer has a list price of £71,499 and was installed at Genesis’ Cardiff base in September to speed up signage board production and broaden the range of substrates it can print on.

The printer will run CMYK plus white and gloss to help create textured effects. Genesis, a marketing specialist in event management, will use the printer for a range of work, including Braille on signage, on an array of different substrates and objects.

“While the VersaUV can take on much of the work we were already doing, it also adds to that,” said managing director Andrew Owen. “Some of the things we have been doing have been quite unbelievable.

“One of our clients makes models of monsters and we have been using the machine to print their eyes onto clear, dome-shaped plastic. Another client wanted printing on stainless steel plaques which, thanks to its thickness capacity, we can fulfil easily.

“We have been running Roland machines for a while and found them to be reliable. As the first to take on an S-Series in Wales, we see this as an indicator that we are pushing ahead and innovating.”

Launched at Fespa Berlin 2018, Roland’s S-Series printers offer “ultimate versatility” on substrates, including wood, glass, plastic, canvas, leather and ceramic.

The LEJ-640 uses Piezo inkjet printheads to print at resolutions up to 1,440dpi onto substrates up to 200mm thick at maximum speeds of 12.4sqm/hr. Its versatility has led to an influx of work for Genesis in what is typically an off-season for the firm.

It will run alongside a Roland DG eco-solvent inkjet printer that Genesis has been operating onsite for five years.

“We are still too busy with all of our new jobs to think about any plans for the future,” said Owen. “This time of year, we have normally seen our orders drop off but right now we have a whole, extensive list to work through.”

Based on 510sqm premises, Genesis currently employs nine members of staff and is set to turn over £520,000 this year.