The print and design company, which specialises in large-format and POS primarily for retail clients, started the move across to the new circa-1,850sqm facility at the Target Business Centre in Maidstone last month. Its previous facility in Aylesford was much smaller at just over 550sqm.
Imagink said the new site provides expanded space and advanced technology, allowing the business to enhance its service capabilities and better meet increasing customer demands. The company has also expanded its permanent team by five from 17 to 22 people to support this growth.
With a total investment of around £1m, covering the move and all of its new kit, additions to the company’s plant list include an Agfa Jeti Tauro UHS inkjet printer; a Xerox Iridesse that offers finishes such as gold, silver, white, and spot varnish; Zünd and Kongsberg cutters; and specialist screen printing machinery from HG Kippax among others.
Due in on 21 October, the Agfa machine is replacing two older Durst printers that the business ran in Aylesford, although it will retain a Durst Rho 320 that it uses for mesh banners, while it also runs an EFI Vutek printer. All of the other new machinery was installed last month.
Mike Saunders, managing director at Imagink, who founded the business in 2009, said: “This move marks an exciting new chapter for Imagink. The larger space and upgraded facilities will enable us to better serve our clients, take on bigger projects, and continue delivering the exceptional quality we’re known for.”
Manager Matt Saunders told Printweek the new facility had a better layout and workflow that would enable the business to operate more efficiently.
“Pre-Covid we had outgrown the old space and we were looking for local buildings – we didn’t want to go too far from where we were. So we bided our time but when Covid hit prices of buildings were skyrocketing and there was turmoil with interest rates.
“Afterwards, we carried on looking and an opportunity came around the corner. We saw this facility and thought that now was the time.”
He added the business should be able to double its turnover following the installation of all of the new kit that will enable it to take on longer-run work from clients that it could not previously compete efficiently on.
“We’ve got quite a lot of clients that were interested in giving us the work once we could compete at higher volumes, which we now can. And we’ll also be able to grow with a few new clients,” Saunders added.
“Our turnaround times in general are very good and we can maintain that and keep the costs as low as possible for our customers. With a bit more space and more efficiency we can pass those savings onto them.”
