The Hull-based printer bought a DYSS X7-1624C digital cutting table after seeing it in operation at last year's Sign & Digital UK show.
The seven-staff company, which makes a £600,000 turnover, paid around £85,000 for the cutting table, which impressed with its attention to detail.
The DYSS will have a payback period of less than two years, believes G4 managing director Darren Jimmeson, who used to outsource cutting work.
He said bringing cutting in-house for signage and lettering from materials such as Dibond and acrylic will save £45,000 a year.
G4 is also cutting its material costs as the software nests the parts on a sheet and calculates the square meterage of material needed to minimise waste.
Jimmeson said that the need to hand cut roll-fed prints and rigid substrates was time consuming and in addition it was difficult to manually cut complex shapes with any level of repeat precision. Instead the business had to oursource foam board, corrugated board or acrylic lettering and signs.
The DYSS machine, installed in the last few months, adds to a plant list that includes an Arizona 350 GT flabed, Mimaki JV33, Konica Bizhub 700 and and Epson 9890.
“We rated the knowledge of the staff - they were more attentive to our needs than alternate vendors,” Jimmeson said.
In its 35-year history the company has evolved from a repro house to one that produces specialist signage, vehicle wrapping, POS, exhibitions, stationery and shop-fitting.
“We would like to grow turnover and expand, and once we get the EU vote out of the way people might start making plans that will give us a better idea of where the market is going,” he added.
He added the machine's Kasemake CAD software stood “head and shoulders” above anything else available, as did the “technical nous” and support of the AG/CAD team.
“The robust build quality, capability and flexibility of the DYSS X7 really sealed the deal for us. Within days of installing the machine we cut a POS job in less than an hour.
“Previously this job would have been a full eight hours of manual cutting with edge quality and precision that wouldn't come close to the DYSS. Our decision to buy was immediately justified.”
He added: “I could see the potential for the software immediately and we are now using it extensively when quoting on jobs.
“The ability to provide customers with a 3D mock-up in a PDF format enables the customer to visualise their design.
“Secondly, we can now design and produce a printed sample with exceptional turnaround times. Existing customers love this new sample process while new customers are being attracted by our visual and physical samples and quotes.”
Kasemake has a database of more than 700 different resizable cutter guides for leaflet holders, displays and boxes.
“While the Kasemake software has enhanced quoting processes and brought in new business, it is the ability to cut acrylic, Dibond, foamex, polypropylene, B and E-flute board and corrugated board as well as vinyl and posters to complicated shapes and geometries that has expanded our customer base.”
