While starting life in 1977 as commercial printer Minprint, a large part of the Belfast-based company’s offering today is wide-format print.

It already had an HP Latex 800W, a Latex 360, and a DesignJet Z6200, as well as an EFI Vutek GS3200 printer, but was still having to outsource some work to a third-party.

To fill this gap in production, MAD Colour decided to invest in the new HP Stitch S1000 in April, supplied by distributor RA Smart.

The purchase has allowed the company to bring previously outsourced textile work in-house, enabling it to take greater control over its production.

“We are using the machine to create products such as flags, air mesh banners, tablecloths, fabric frames and event backdrops,” said MAD Colour managing director Jamie McMinnis.

“We already offered these products via a third-party supplier, but the purchase means we can now do it all in-house.

“The printer means that we have better control of the supply chain, have reduced the risk of logistical complications and are better in tune with the very time-sensitive event and hospitality markets.”

He added: “We now offer the most advanced dye-sublimation print facility in Northern Ireland, meaning we can remove carriage costs and reduce lead times by the time taken to ship products from mainland UK or Europe to the local market.

“We can now offer customers in Northern Ireland the best quality fabric prints without compromise.”