With the addition of 12 more staff to its team, the Belfast-based company is now running a 24/7 litho operation and has increased its digital operation to a double-day shift.

Installed in May, the Mimaki is part of a £10m investment over the past five years.

“We like everything about our new Mimaki,” said business development director Helen McClay. “It gives us options we didn't have before. We have always been a quality-led company, the quality and vibrancy of the finished product is excellent.

“Also, we really like the print-and-cut feature which, while not unique, is very new to us. Previously to produce stickers we would have had to set up the cylinder with a forme, now it is much more efficient to produce on one machine.”

Supplied by GPMI, which has offices in Dublin and Belfast, GPS chose the large-format machine because of its “better build quality” over competitors and the level of support it received from the vendor. GPS had previously outsourced its large-format jobs, but is now bringing the work in-house with the Mimaki.

The company’s 80-strong team moved to a new near-12,000sqm facility, which includes a 470sqm space for its digital and wide-format work. Kit includes what McClay believes to be the first Xerox iGen 5 in Northern Ireland, as well as a Bubble Free Pro applicator and Neschen Cold Lam 1650 laminator.

GPS’ litho kit line-up was also expanded with the installation of a Screen PlateRite HD 8900Z CTP from Fujifilm.

With a turnover of £8m, GPS specialises in mid-to-high volumes of brochures, catalogues, magazines and books, among a wide range of printed products for a client base including local councils, universities, publishers, churches, and charities as well as private companies.