Both supplied by CMYUK, the original Colorado 1650 replaced two HP Latex printers at the seven-staff Edinburgh-based business while the Colorado 1630, which was installed in May, has replaced the company’s last remaining HP Latex printer.
“There are parts that HP Latex technology can’t reach that led to us to look for an alternative,” said Matt Gunn-Cullin, co-founder and joint MD alongside his husband, Thomas Gunn-Cullin.
“The durability and quality of the Colorado prints are superior to the prints coming from our old HP Latex machines to the point where customers were noticing.”
The Colorado 1630 features a monodirectional mode unavailable on the 1650 which, while slower, produces clean, dark, solid colours every time.
“Even the slowest monodirectional speed on the 1630 is still almost three times faster than our old HPs. The combination of the 1630 with the 1650, which is a real workhorse, puts us in a very good place that allows us to produce just about anything,” he added.
The installation of this second printer has enabled the business to promote the gamut of solid colour designs including darker hues and shades.
The company’s core specialism is producing photographic backdrops for product and food photography, made available under its own ‘Club Backdrops’ sub-brand.
It attracts two distinct customer types – entrepreneurs who are promoting their own products, and professional photographers that require backdrops for client product shoots, which has included the likes of John Lewis, Buzzfeed, and Deliveroo.
“We see our stuff popping up in magazines all the time, which is really nice,” said Gunn-Cullin.
The photographic backdrops are typically used for food or product shots, and popular sizes are 600x900mm or 900x1,200mm for a slightly more expansive scene.
Recent investment in its customisable product range now means that photographers can order backdrops that match their clients’ brands exactly. Colour stability is key for this, and has been made easy with the Colorado printers, according to Gunn-Cullin.
To accommodate the first Colorado, Pineapple Express moved into a new production facility, which is big enough to house the second printer. The extra space has also supported the company’s expansion into new areas such as backdrops/props for the events and entertainment industries.
