Installed by reseller Papergraphics, the investments have allowed the diversified print company to take on larger volume runs.

The two devices' latex ink’s eco-friendly credentials were particularly attractive, according to chief commercial and sustainability officer Tony Dennington. Positive+ had considered other machines, but the eco-friendly water-based inks made the difference.

Dennington told Printweek: “[The R2000] has opened us up to bigger quantity runs at competitive prices, and the sustainability side is a big part of our ethos moving forwards.”

Installed in August, it is the machine’s feed system that has made the biggest difference for the firm, however. Previously, on its other machines the vacuum had not been sufficient to hold down E and EB fluted board, and the team had resorted to taping down the edges with masking tape or risk print errors – ​or an expensive printhead crash.

Dennington explained: “We had to tape them down, which takes a hell of a long time for each print copy, whereas with the HP, we're feeding through on a conveyor belt type system of printing.

“The vacuum is very strong, it holds the sheets down flat. For reasonably large volume runs of corrugated board printing, it’s the perfect machine for us. It works really well.

“It has opened doors for where in the past we were struggling to be competitive on volume print runs, we’re finding we’ve slotted into that band quite nicely now.”

The Latex 800W, a 1.63m roll-roll printer with white channel, has likewise proved its use, said Dennington.

“It’s great for our vinyl and general roll-to-roll work,” he said, adding that the quality has been consistent with the R2000.

Positive+ has traditionally done much of its wide format work on UV machines. Its stable includes a Mimaki 3.2m roll-to-roll and Océ 3.2m flatbed, alongside a pair of HP DesignJet printers.