Investing circa-£23,000, the Andover-based print-on-demand firm took delivery of the machine at the end of last year to help with the significant increased demand for fabric printing it fulfils around Christmas.
The machine was supplied by Hemel Hempstead’s Colourbyte and joins a vast array of Epson machines, including two SC-F9200s, four SC-F6200s and 18 Stylus Pro 7890s, as well as a number of printers from Mutoh.
“Our original plan was to buy another 9200 because they have served us well,” said WPAPS chief executive Tom Withers. “But the new machine was available at the time and offers something very similar with some exciting additions to help us meet customer demand.
“With Epson machines we like to stick to what we know, so this was our first time being the first to install something new. But we have had a very positive relationship with Colourbyte for years and we trusted their word on the new machine.”
WPAPS’s core business centres on personalised, one-off product production including fulfilment direct to the end-user on behalf of its worldwide customer base.
The 108.6sqm/hr, 1.6m-wide SC-F9300 dye-sub was launched at the end of 2017 to print on clothing, textiles and soft signage. It boasts new Epson Precision Dot technology for dye-sublimation including a halftone module, look-up tables and micro-weave.
Bolstering WPAPS’ offering through the festive season, the printer was the first step in a significant expansion of the company’s business. In April, the 42-strong team will be moving from its 1,200sqm premises to a significantly larger 4,460sqm new home.
Following the move, Withers expects to bring in new staff, as well as a suite of new Epson and Mutoh machines once the move is complete.
He said: “Our new premises will be nearly four times the size of our current base, which is good because we are pretty much maxed out here. It will give us more space for our in-house processes, such as sewing, as well as room for new staff and kit.
“What form that takes will be down to customer demand, so we are ready for next Christmas.”
According to Withers, the £4m-turnover company ships anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 items each day, and the new SC-F9300 can be responsible for 400 to 1,000 of those.
