Inspire, which specialises in novelty vintage street signs, saw the two 1x1.6m flatbed UV presses as a real step up for its print offering.

The firm had found itself outgrowing its previous machine, a smaller flatbed which it had used to test the market for demand. 

Inspire did not have to look far for its next purchase, according to Andrew Whotton, the company’s managing director.

Reaching out to the Inspire’s existing ink supplier, Quality Print Services (QPS), he was introduced to the ColorJet Verve Mini as a potential option.

“We looked at a few machines,” Whotton told Printweek, explaining that in the end, the ColorJet’s low price – it was listed below £20,000 by QPS earlier this year – and wider bed helped it to beat the competition.

“They’re just the right size for us to do small plaques, things like that. They are good cost-wise and easy to maintain.”

Inspire had a few “teething problems” understanding the new software after the initial install, but has since found them to be an effective tool, with print production up 60%-70% on the previous machine’s output.

The firm is now considering buying another Verve Mini in the new year, and potentially hiring another member of staff to back up the growth.

“Obviously we don’t want to take on too much, but we’re now able to commit to a lot more work,” Whotton explained.

The Verve Minis are designed for a range of substrates, with a maximum thickness of 65mm and approved materials including foam board, acrylic, glass, tiles and cut sheets, and can cut up to 5.57sqm/hr.

QPS, which was appointed ColorJet’s UK distributor in July 2021, buys the presses in dry before filling them with the Nazdar digital press inks it supplies.