The two machines were installed in November at the firm’s head office in Bingley, West Yorkshire. With floorspace at a premium, the two machines use the same area as the unnamed large flatbed inkjet press they have replaced.
The purchases, which will be used to produce Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs), represent the company’s first investment with SwissQprint and managing director Jonathan Haggas said the purchase had gone well.
“I am a nervous buyer, yet I can honestly say this is the first time that an investment has exceeded my expectations. From their easy install to their intuitive use and exceptional print quality, our Kudus are having a huge impact - we are really, really pleased.”
After deciding to invest in new equipment, the business had carried out a thorough review of the printer market and as part of this process it contacted SwissQprint to evaluate the qualities of the Kudu.
Initially the team spent a day at the Fespa Global Print Expo, and this was soon followed by a visit to SwissQprint’s UK headquarters in Bracknell, where a wide range of Valley’s materials were tested.
The Kudu’s Tip Switch vacuum dealt with the corrugated substrates that Valley provided while the business was also impressed with the machine’s high print quality across every substrate.
The Kudu’s creative print effects also include sharp 2pt text, 3D effects, haptic (tactile) printing, and white and spot varnish.
The machine features roll-to-roll and dual roll capabilities, 304sqm/hr maximum output, and a combination of six colours, white and varnish.
“From the outset we have been incredibly excited about the potential impact the Kudu could have for our retail clients and our day at Bracknell just clarified this,” said Haggas.
“With its amazing Swiss built quality we saw how it could efficiently and effectively print across all our materials. Our purchase decision became obvious, so much so that we decided to invest in two machines.”
Since installing the two Kudus, Valley is also benefitting from their efficient running costs and small ecological footprint.
The printers use only 2.2 kilowatt-hours of electricity per machine, equal to an average kettle, providing savings of over £100 per day when compared to the single printer the Kudus have replaced.
Ian Maxfield, regional sales manager at SwissQprint, also commented: “From the start it has been clear that the Kudus could help Valley provide the innovative, high-quality print that its retail solutions are known for.”
