Founded by John Hughes in 1999, the 12-staff family-run business took on the machine – which was supplied by CMYUK – at the end of October.
Signs and Labels serves sectors including retail, office refits, leisure, and vehicle graphics. Ross Hughes – John Hughes’ son – is now taking the lead in driving the company forward and managing daily operations, while daughter Laura Hughes is focusing on business development.
The Colorado investment wasn’t originally planned. Ross and Laura Hughes attended a CMYUK open day intending to explore flatbed cutters. However, after seeing the Colorado in action, the pair were impressed by its design, speed, and the capabilities of its white ink.
“We walked away knowing this was the machine we wanted,” said director Ross Hughes.
“At the time, we weren’t actively looking for a roll-to-roll printer, but after seeing what the Colorado could do, it stayed in the back of our minds.”
With a busy production schedule, especially during peak summer months, Signs and Labels had been running a Roland DG solvent printer alongside a Canon Arizona hybrid.
However, demand was beginning to outstrip capacity, with the solvent output requiring degassing and lamination, which increased the company’s production time and material costs.
“The solvent printer just wasn’t keeping up, and even the Arizona, while faster, wasn’t quick enough when things got really busy,” said Hughes.
“We needed a high-performance roll-to-roll solution, and the Colorado M5W was the obvious choice.”
Although the Colorado was already on the company’s radar, the opportunity to invest arose when a local government grant became available, offering up to 75% funding for businesses in the Hereford region investing in eco-friendly technology.
Switching from solvent to UVgel technology significantly reduced Signs and Labels’ environmental footprint, reducing solvent inks and cutting down on laminates. The move aligned perfectly with the grant’s objectives.
“With support from CMYUK and Canon, we secured the funding and were able to invest in the Colorado sooner than we originally planned,” said Hughes.
“The transition to UV printing is a win-win. It lowers costs, improves efficiency, and makes our production more sustainable.”
Since installation, the Colorado M5W has boosted the company’s production speed, print quality and efficiency, making it easier to keep up with demand, while white ink can now be easily printed, significantly improving turnaround times.
The M5W also negates the need for laminates, cutting down on plastic waste and material costs, while UVgel inks minimise consumption, further enhancing efficiency.
The machine’s gloss/matt combinations and flexible printing capabilities have also enabled the business to offer premium services, and expand its revenue streams.
“The onboarding process was effortless and the ongoing support from CMYUK has been fantastic, ensuring we get the most out of the printer,” Hughes added.
While Signs and Labels Hereford has grown primarily through word-of-mouth and long-term relationships, with the Colorado M5W the company is now looking to expand its reach nationwide.
“We’ve never actively marketed ourselves – our growth has always been organic,” said Hughes.
“We recognise the need to attract new clients and broaden our reach. The Colorado plays a key role in this by allowing us to take on more work, offer new services, and improve efficiency.”
