Choosing the Jetrix KX7-S meant New Ink not only had to find new premises to fit the large-format machine in but embark on major building work to the space.
The company pinpointed a former beauty parlour a few metres from its premises in Caterham, Surrey, and started internal refurbishment to make it more open plan.
Once that was done they had to worry about getting it through the door. The solution was to remove the door, and the window and even the railings outside to accommodate the printer.
The £145,000 flatbed KX7-S runs at up to 60sqm per hour and boasts a fine-art resolution of 1440x720 dpi down to a production resolution of 1440x360dpi and was installed just before Christmas.
It was bought in addition to existing machines including an HP Latex L26500 for banners, a HP Indigo 5000, a Canon iPF8300 for posters and a recently purchased Summa vinyl cutter.
Large-format manager Andy Kordowski said: “It was a bit of a kurfuffle getting the machine into the old beauty parlour and we had to knock six rooms into one.
“Our latex printer is great but we needed a flatbed for printing on to board, Dibond, Foamex board, and for use on bespoke jobs, such as one we did recently for loo seats.
“We looked an HP hybrid machine, but the benefits of the Jetrix is it's built to last and you have the ability to pause the machine mid job. You can also print on media up to 100mm deep.
“Also, the primer is already in the inks, so this was the perfect choice. The three-year warranty was good. With the HP, after the first year you had to pay £10,000 a year to extend cover.”
Kordowski added: “If the Jetrix and Summa vinyl cutter go well, we may buy a cutting table, but we don't want to go crazy and spend lots of money too soon.”
Eight-staff New Ink has a turnover of £800,000 and Kordowski hopes the new Jetrix will help push turnover to over £1m in 12 months by moving into print on metals such as stainless steel, perspex, folders and more bespoke products.
“Whenever you buy a big piece of kit you invariably ask yourself 'have I done the right thing?', but every time we have used the Jetrix I have thought this is such the right machine for us,” Kordowski added.
