The company doubled its premises area to 186sqm and bought a Mimaki CJV300-160 printer-cutter and an HP DesignJet 360 latex printer, installed towards the end of last month.
Lustalux spent £60,000 on the kit and extension and replaced a Roland XC-540 wide-format printer to go into the company's base in Preston.
“The Roland was coming to the point where it was starting to cost us money and we wanted a similar machine of high quality,” said director Richard Lancaster.
“The Mimaki was highly recommended by people in the industry and we were hoping to develop a vehicle wrapping side of the business. This new kit will guarantee quality.
“With vehicle wraps quality has to be spot on – everyone likes an immaculate car. That's why we went for the Mimaki. It will complement our internal wall graphic, mural and wallpaper work.”
He added: “The business has gone from strength to strength throughout 2015. We were struggling to keep up with the surge in demand for graphics, murals and wallpaper.”
Mimaki reseller Granthams supplied the CJV300, which runs at speeds of over 100sqm an hour on vinyl, banner, canvas, paper and other substrates.
With a print width of 1.6m and running Mimaki’s SS21 low-solvent inks, Lustalux was using the CJV300’s high quality of output to expand its portfolio, said Lancaster.
“We’re now perfectly placed to be able to offer not only our core window and wall graphics but also new products such as vehicle liveries and event branding,” he explained.
Lancaster said the Mimaki replaced the company’s previous eco-solvent printer-cutter and was chosen because it offered a higher standard of quality and detail.
Lustalux works for blue-chip clients and serves both trade print and direct accounts. It works in the education sector and also supplies graphics to household brand names.
Lancaster said he expected his 10-staff company to double its £1m turnover in three years and was to take on three new staff, in field sales and administration. Existing kit includes Graphtec plotters and Easymount laminators.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see how far the company has come since it was formed over 24 years ago and to have such a high calibre of skills in-house,” he said.
