The Glasgow-based firm bought the printer, which was installed last month, for £16,000 from City and West End Solutions (CWE). It has replaced an HP Z6100, which the firm has sold on.
“We bought the new machine because of the environmental impact that it has and the capabilities that it’s got. We’ve already seen a better colour, and the printer creates its own profiles on any material, which has been a big benefit,” said managing director Ian Penman.
The firm, which also runs Mimaki CJV 30-160 and Roland DG Hi-Fi Jet printers, also looked at alternatives from Mimaki but decided that the Latex 360 was the best fit for its requirements.
“I had looked at Latex previously but the image at the time was too soft. With the new machines the image is harder and the optimising system means you get output that is sharper and just as robust as that from UV machines,” said Penman.
“I believe that with today’s green agenda, UV printers will eventually be banned for environmental reasons. We’ve already had clients asking about environmental certifications, who want a non-solvent product.”
The Latex 360 was launched in April along with the lower volume 310 and 330 options. It can print at up to 91sqm/hr in single-pass mode and features an 8in touchscreen and automatic ICC profiling.
The Onyx RIP has also equipped the company with the ability to print two-sided, something that it has had to outsource in the past.
“In today’s market it’s important to keep as much work in-house as you can, and the new technologies are making that possible,” said Penman.
“With this new printer we can continue producing our staple products while also diversifying into outdoor applications. We’re also now looking at working more with temporary textiles and soft signage in the future.”
Introscan, which was initially established as an image setting service around 11 years ago, has two staff and a turnover of around £100,000. It produces wide-format print including posters, outdoor banners, exhibition stands, flyers and A-boards for customers in a wide range of industries.
