The family-run business, based in Stoke-on-Trent, started offering wide-format two years ago when it took on a Roland VersaExpress RF-640 wide-format digital printer, of which it now has two, and in the past month it has installed a Graphtec FC8600 plotter-cutter from reseller Granthams and a Bubble Free Pro mounting table from reseller Josero.
Director Alex Stanley, whose grandfather founded the eight-staff firm, said he wanted to continue to adapt Sherwin’s offering and increase the proportion of wide-format jobs it takes on, which has risen from 20% to 50% in the past two years, although it is on the lookout for a new bookletmaker as potential next investment.
“It’s about trying to get our customers realising that we’re not just a printer anymore, we are signage [company] and we are doing it from print through to install," said Stanley.
"It can be quite difficult when you’ve got a customer base so used to doing one thing and you’re almost a different company.
“We want to offer a one-stop shop. Most litho customers expect you to do signage and rather risk them going we’d rather they were here and being serviced without relying on anyone else.”
The mounting table can take a variety of substrates, sized up to 3x1.5m, while the plotter can reach speeds of almost 1.5m/s and has 600gf (5.9N) cutting force.
Stanley added: “We’ve got them flat out at the moment, which is important when you make quite a big investment keeping it busy. We’re gearing up for Christmas now, with vehicle graphics and shop displays keeping us busy.”
Sherwin has also added to its digital fleet this year, bringing in a Xerox Versant 80 digital press in January, which Stanley also said had been “keeping busy”.
The firm, which has been in operation since 1901, but changed to its current name in 1969, offers a variety of other print services, including leaflets, brochures and business cards. As well as its wide-format kit, the company also runs two Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52s, a Heidelberg MO and a Platen for cutting and creasing.
