The first instalment of the strategic spend was a Durst Rhotex 325 soft-signage dye-sub printer, which went into full production at the end of March to support growing demand.
Production director at the Printweek Award-winning business Mark Elen said the investment was designed to support increased demands for faster turnarounds and just-in-time deliveries.
The 3.2-wide roll-to-roll Rhotex 325 features Durst’s WTS printhead technology, which enables it to print either direct-to-textile or via transfer paper at up to 390sqm/hr.
“It literally eats the volumes and is three-to-four times faster than the machines it will replace,” said Elen.
“It’s apparent from this pandemic, more than ever you need to be extremely agile. It’s an even more competitive market where, for example, we get asked by internationally-renowned brands to change job specifications at a moment’s notice.”
The Rhotex 325 replaced a 2018 installed Durst P5, which was traded in.
Elen said that the next plank in the investment strategy would be a Durst Rho 2500 HS and “further activity is planned around equipment and people”.
The hybrid flatbed/roll-to-roll Rho 2500 series offers dual track printing and can run at up to 1,200sqm/hr. VGL’s 2.5m wide machine will be configured to run Durst’s POP HS inkset.
“The last 12 months has been unprecedented and certainly highlighted why it’s important to be able to adapt and evolve,” said Elen.
“While like many we’ve provided essential Covid related messaging throughout, we are of course keen to return to VGL’s more creative print solutions and I believe we have good reason to be optimistic about the future given our varied client base and production capabilities.”
The Reading-based OOH specialist serves sectors including retail and transport as well as, pre-pandemic, exhibitions and museums. Its common applications include building wraps, hoardings, in-store graphics, window displays, POS, vehicle wrapping, display systems, promotional displays and interior graphics.
It operates from three production sites in the Berkshire town totalling more than 6,000sqm.
