Established in 2009, the County Durham-based signage specialist works with the construction, retail, education, manufacturing, transport, and medical industries.
It chose the Epson machine, which was installed last month, to enable greater control over quality consistency, reduce turnaround times, and eliminate additional costs.
Ben Kennedy, commercial director at Sign Design GB, said: “We were sub-contracting about £80,000 to £100,000 of direct-to-substrate work a year.
“We decided it was time to bring that in-house so we could ensure consistency, reduce turnaround times, cut our carbon footprint and also develop that part of the business.
“Now we have additional capacity and the ability to offer some unique products. We can promote these services more widely, confident in the knowledge we can deliver the desired results. We can also explore other application possibilities, run samples, and show clients what is possible.”
He added: “We looked at what was on the market and chose the Epson system for two reasons. First, ease of use was very important. We wanted something that was operator friendly and not too complicated to use. Despite its specialist features, there is no need for specialist training, and we already have four people confident in running it.”
The SureColor SC-V7000 can print on a wide range of media and was developed for printing retail and outdoor signage, window displays, hoarding panels, packaging, promotional goods, and decor products.
The machine features Epson’s unique UltraChrome UV ink configuration, including red, grey, white, and varnish.
The printer was supplied by Epson reseller Perfect Colours and the company’s support was a key reason that Sign Design GB opted for the device.
“We have bought a number of solutions from them over the years, and they are always very helpful. They provide the right level of technical help, and it is good to know they are there even if we don’t need them.”
He added: “[The SC-V7000] will enable us to continue to grow in the direct-to-substrate sector and develop a more complete and versatile offering for our clients. It will also enable us to employ another apprentice in this area of the business.
“By completing the work in-house we can better improve our margins and ensure quality consistency.”
12 staff work at Sign Design GB, which has a turnover of £1.25m.
