The Camberley-based company specialises in bespoke packaging and presentation boxes, including the burgeoning market for social media influencer boxes.

Showcase Creative was a double award winner at last year’s Printweek Awards, where it won Packaging Printer of the Year and Bespoke Digital Printer of the Year.

The firm has expanded its cutting capacity with a new VeloBlade Volta cutter from Vivid, which joins two Zund cutting tables.

A bespoke fully-automatic box and casemaking line, along with a CNC-assisted box assembly line has also been installed. This equipment was built to Showcase Creative’s own specification by a specialist manufacturer in China, and automates some of the fiddly hand finishing processes that are typical of the type of work the firm handles.

Director Paul Batey visited China at the end of last year to check on progress prior to the line’s installation.

“Since a significant amount of our equipment is custom-made, I like to visit our supplier's facility during production to make sure everything goes smoothly. I also looked at some potential future purchases while I was there,” he explained.

Digital printing has also been upgraded, with a Konica Minolta AccurioPress C6100 replacing its old Bizhub C1100.

This has also increased print capacity and gives the firm more flexibility in the types of stock it can handle.

“We're really pleased with the setup we have now. It puts us in great stead to expand the business in the coming years,” Batey added.

Fellow director Jack Batey said the firm's influencer box business had grown last year, while the fresh investment in automation would help it grow its presence in the longer-run market for retail boxes. By offering local production the firm can offer greater control, and much shorter lead times than for boxes sourced in the Far East.

“I think a lot of people have started trying to get into this market, but to do it well it really is quite difficult,” Jack Batey noted.

“Getting the right staff, the right equipment and being good at what you do is a very steep learning curve.”

Showcase Creative works for a range of blue-chip clients and specialist agencies. Other services include prototyping for product development and seasonal specialities such as luxe Advent calendars.

The firm expects to achieve sales of £2.3m this year, and employs 30 staff.