The printer was installed to boost productivity and offer a same day service, with the Lightbar UV drying system key to this.
“Normally you print and have to leave the print 24 hours before you can do anything to it. But with this as soon as it’s cut off the machine it’s ready,” said co-owner Adi Qureshi.
“That means when people walk into the shop and ask for a job you can print it while they sit in the waiting area. We have a lot of university students come in wanting posters printed while they wait. And before we used to get phone calls from businesses we work with asking if they could send artwork in the evening and get the print in the morning; now we can say you can pick it up in the next hour.”
The UV640 was supplied by Colorific and prints up to 21sqm per hour. It was installed to largely replace a Smartcolour Chinese machine which is still being used as back-up.
“With that machine, because it was Chinese, no one could supply the parts or service it, but now Colorific are just a phone call away,” said Qureshi, adding: “And compared to that old machine the quality of the UV640 is immaculate as well.”
The UV640 cost under £15,000, with the company hoping its next spend will be on a new factory unit that will allow it to invest in more kit, including a new router.
The Sign Shop hopes to double its £100,000 turnover by the end of this year.
