The super wide-format photo laser printer will be used for the production of lightboxes, murals and banners mainly for the high-end retail market.

"We had small format ink-jets for producing high resolution work internally, but we always felt that they were very slow, which caused problems," said VGL managing director Michael Ayerst. "The LightJet was a move towards higher speeds and better quality."

"Before the LightJet when we printed Duratrans for lightboxes there would always be a visible join where light shone through graphics wider than 124cm."

LightJet offers true continuous tone photographic imaging by using lasers to image photographic substrates for reflective or backlit work.

Based on internal drum architecture it produces 300dpi images with visual resolution of 4,000dpi and is capable of outputting a full-size job of 193x304.8cm at 200dpi in under eight minutes.

Ayerst said: "We now have the widest photographic printer in the UK, which gives us something unique, and the images are really superb. Until you see the quality it produces you can't really appreciate the benefits."

Installation took place at the end of May along with a range of new finishing kit, including laminators, as well as some new pre-press equipment. "It was a big investment," said Ayerst.

Though the first jobs have been produced the LightJet is still in the commissioning stage. Ayerst felt it should be up to full capacity by July.

Story by Darryl Danielli