The firm will service its B2B clientele through a new brand, Printing X, and will focus on sign boards, canvasses, murals and stickers, in addition to its B2C offering of promotional gifts, t-shirt printing and embroidery.

“Whatever our customers want, we can provide it,” said Ravi De Silva Lindamulage, co-owner of TPGS.

The expansion into B2B work will help to iron out the seasonal peaks typical of consumer-focused work - currently the business employs three people, but during busy periods it takes on up to three more temporary staff.

TPGS has premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme with a physical shop and adjoining production space, said Lindamulage, which has led to a significant amount of walk-in business.

Lindamulage founded TPGS with his wife, Achala Wannipuge in 2016. The company initially focused on producing phone cases and cushion covers using sublimation with a sublimation printer installed in their home.

Their first printer, a Mimaki UJF-3042FX flatbed, purchased like the latter from supplier CMYUK, set the ground for the installation of the UCJV300 in September.

The couple's decision to take up B2B trading, Lindamulage told Printweek, came after they realised just how much demand there was amongst local business owners for large-format print - even now, the company has found it has not needed to promote the new brand.

Before too long the company will need to expand its production area to accommodate potential new wide-format machinery, according to Lindamulage.

For now, however, the business, which turns over around £300,000, is happy where it is - the site, he said, “is a really nice place.”