The Birmingham-based business, which was established more than 130 years ago, started out as a manufacturer of nameplates under the leadership of engraver Ernest Rudd.
Over the years, it has evolved to become a provider of a wide range of printed products, including badges, nameplates, and serial plates.
The company installed the Latex R1000 in March to help it print high-value rigid jobs at high quality on a range of media such as plastic foamboard, PVC foam, metal, wood, glass, ceramic, and cardboard.
Managing director Chris Dickinson said: “The flexibility to print on all mediums was a plus but the biggest selling point was the white print. We print onto a number of substrates but mainly metal, foamboard, and PETG.
“The material would usually determine which printing process we would use, but the new HP can do it all. Before moving repeat products across, we go through a colour matching and detail sign off, and so far, all has been well.
“New work is predominantly all quoted and put through the HP printer. This work varies from pump clips for the brewing industry through to metal signs that go on to be embossed for a variety of businesses.”
He also praised the impact of the new HP printer on thermoforming, which forms a large part of the company’s workload. Previously, this process involved one substrate being printed and then laminated to another, with a significant drying time in between these stages causing a slow-down in production.
But the flexibility of the inks on the new Latex R1000 means the business now only needs to print one substrate, while the quality of the Latex inks has removed the need for drying time, saving the company significantly on time, labour, and costs according to Dickinson.
“We produce a range of vacuum-formed backlit products and the background colours, particularly the whites, had to be screen printed after the initial digital printing.
“The new HP printer brings this process into one, increasing our production print and drying times considerably.”
He added the new machine will play a major role in helping the business achieve its short- and long-term growth goals, enabling it to target new markets such as POS, bespoke packaging, and display and design within the travel industry.
