The DYSS X5-2516, has a working area of 2.5x1.6m and is configured with a 2TM head, will be used for POS work for supermarkets, garden centres and kitchenware outlets.
The X5 cost £65,000, went in on 20 November and has a touch-and-go calibration system suitable for different materials, which measures tool lengths to ensure consistent cut, crease and score.
Installation followed that in January of a superwide 3.2x1.6m DYSS X7-3216 with conveyor and Superhead and feed table. The kit, also an addition to existing machines, cost £95,0000.
And in October the business, which is based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, replaced a seven-year-old Vutek QS3200 with an HP Latex 3100 that cost £250,000.
Managing director Russ Murch said the new machine would increase finishing that went along with a recent rise in work his company was doing for big-name supermarkets.
“Since installing the kit we have gone from strength to strength and are taking on work that before we would have had to outsource.
“We took on the first table to handle all the large-format material but we needed a another one to run off smaller sheets. We do everything from shelf barkers and banners to 3D POS displays.”
Murch said his 18-staff company, which made £1.5m last year, was on target to hit the £2.5m mark this year thanks to the new purchases.
“Growing and taking on extra work has never been a problem, it's getting the work through fast enough that in the past has been tricky.
“Because of this, we deliberately did not approach customers as much as we could because you only get one chance and if it doesn't go to plan you won't get another.
“Now we can push ourselves more. We are expecting a very exciting year, there's not a lot holding us back. We've taken a cautious approach on expansion but now it's paying dividends.”
Of the HP Latex 3100, Murch said: “We were outsourcing a lot of dye-sublimation work on fabric and then heard about the Latex, which could do all our banners in addition to the fabric work.
“It's the first time I've been able to load up a roll of material, set the machine and walk away; you receive a text when it's finished the job or is running low on ink. And it runs at 150sqm an hour – at least five times faster than the Vutek.”
