Specialising in exhibitions and displays from its base in Tobacco Dock, East London, Jupiter has been steadily solidifying its standing as an independent service provider since it broke away from its former parent Callprint through an MBO last May, with Callprint later going into administration.
Having run some printing inhouse previously, the expansion of its kit came in late February with the introduction of two HP Latexes – a 560 and a 315 – and two DesignJet Z6200s, taken secondhand from fellow London operation Digital Fusion in Fitzrovia.
Shortly following this, Jupiter officially locked in a partnership with Belgian display systems developer Aluvision, which allows it to provide clients with exhibition modules that can incorporate dynamic structures and smart screen technology alongside printed matter.
Ben Moss, who runs the firm alongside fellow joint chief executive David Snaith, said: “By taking on these new HP machines it gives us greater capacity and helps push our expansion further. This does not mean we will not continue to work with trade partners for our print.
“What I like about our approach is that it keeps in mind the fact that not everyone in the sector is a threat and, while we want our own capability, we can equally work together.
“I think this is the way forward, by answering calls from our clients for a full solution that goes beyond the printed image for their display stands. Print will always be our core but by partnering with Aluvision our offering is renewed and keeps us dynamic within the marketplace – the display market is booming despite uncertainty right now.”
The HP Latex 560 is a 1.6m-wide roll printer capable of speeds up to 23sqm/hr at resolutions up to 1,200dpi. Its 1.3m-counterpart, the 315, can reach speeds up to 48sqm/hr for two-pass billboard applications and equally prints to a maximum resolution of 1,200dpi.
Jupiter’s two new DesignJet Z6200s sport a 1m-wide roll which can reach print speeds up to 113.6sqm/hr and resolution up to 2,400x1,200dpi.
Next steps for exhibition specialist Jupiter will involve the hiring of further staff in line with its sales projections – from a £3m turnover last year, Moss said his firm had seen a 72% increase in sales for the first quarter of 2019.
