It’s been so successful that he’s now considering a second model, the Nyala 5 that was announced a few months ago.
The Nyala 4 was actually the second new printer purchased by GMD around the same time, following a Canon Colorado M5W roll-fed UVgel model which replaced the company’s original pair of Mimaki UCJV300 UV print-and-cut machines.
Gadliauskas set up GMD Print & Install in south east London in 2017, originally as a sign and graphics installation company. He was born and grew up in Lithuania, where his father owns a large-format print company.
“I moved to the UK in July 2010,” he says. “My reason for relocating was straightforward: Lithuania, being a small country, had become monotonous for me. I found myself predicting my weekly work routine, including projects and tasks, which ultimately led to a loss of enjoyment in my work.
“My father, Raimundas, was the primary influence that drew me into this industry back in Lithuania. I began spending time with him at his workplace from the age of six or seven.
“Initially, I observed the various roles and responsibilities, finding them fascinating. Soon, I started experimenting with the different aspects of the business.
“After a while, however, simply watching others work became tedious, and I felt unproductive. I wanted to contribute. So, I began participating in every position. And when I say ‘every position,’ I mean everything: from basic vinyl applications and print finishing to manufacturing signage, large-format printing, screen printing, and much more.
“Naturally, everyone was pleased that I was no longer just observing their work but actively assisting... as we all know, having children in the workplace can be challenging, particularly when deadlines are tight!
“We began GMD as an installation company, and we are now structuring our services to offer greater flexibility. We can handle installations independently (including for other printing firms), provide printing services on their own, or manage entire projects from initiation to completion.”
Having moved into print about three years ago, the company now handles projects from simple tasks to high-end luxury brand installations, events, and office interiors and branding. It’s done work for brands including Dior, Burberry, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Fendi and Vans.
GMD Print & Install employs 10 full-time office and production employees at its site in the Apollo Business centre between Rotherhithe and Deptford. There are two outsourced team members working from abroad. “Also, we have a regular installation team of seven or eight self-employed individuals,” says Gadliauskas. “For quality and speed assurance, I avoid using unknown installation teams.”
It’s all paying off with respectable growth, he says. Turnover in 2023 was a little short of £800,000, and in 2024 it was around £1.3m. For 2025 Gadliauskas is anticipating between £1.7m and £1.8m, thanks to the extra business that the Nyala and Colorado printers are bringing in. “This year we plan to expand into Europe with a focus on high-end office interiors and branding,” says Gadliauskas.
What is a Nyala 4?
Built in Switzerland, it’s a large-format flatbed UV-cured inkjet printer that can handle large, thick and heavy sheet material up to 3.2x2m as well as flexible rolls up to 3.2m wide. Two 1.5m rolls can be printed side-by-side. It can print on almost any surface, from wood to fabric, up to 50mm thick. Multiple passes can build up raised lettering and braille, as well as textured surfaces. The UV-cured inks are solvent-free, vegan and Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical and particle emissions indoors.
Why choose the Nyala 4?
This is the company’s first flatbed printer, Gadliauskas says. “We initially relied on printing, laminating, and mounting onto rigid boards, which was not cost-effective. Securing a flatbed printer was a goal from the beginning. However, building a high-quality printing company without external funding presented significant obstacles. It took between one and one and a half years to acquire the Nyala, and we are absolutely delighted with it.”
“Initially, we were seeking a budget-friendly option for the flatbed startup,” he recalls. “However, upon seeing a new machine alongside a nine-year-old used one in the showroom, I decided that investing in new equipment was essential. Quality has always been a core value for GMD, along with speed, and I wanted to ensure that from the very beginning.
“We considered several options, but none impressed us as much as the SwissQprint Nyala. Its operational ease surpasses anything our team has experienced with other brands. SwissQprint has a strong reputation for producing top-tier equipment.”
How did the installation go?
“The Nyala was installed around mid-June last year,” Gadliauskas says. “The installation was carried out by SwissQprint UK. By the end of the second day, we were already running test prints. Following that, we completed two days of training and commenced production immediately. “Two days of training were sufficient for standard daily printing. However, more practice was necessary for specialised techniques like Droptix and Art-relief. We received comprehensive support from the SwissQprint applications team after the training, who were always readily available to assist us promptly.
“For standard print jobs, the workflow is straightforward, encompassing file loading and artwork processing. The only area requiring further development is the Droptix and Art-relief printing techniques. Progress in these specialised prints has been slowed by a lack of dedicated testing time.”
However, Gadliauskas does note that “we are still adapting to the Caldera RIP, as we recently integrated it across all our printers. This transition required significant colour matching for our numerous repetitive jobs and the creation of new profiles for each printer”.
All in all, he’s very happy, he says. “I have absolutely no negative feedback regarding our experience with the Nyala. We encountered minimal issues, primarily related to transportation, as the printer arrived 98% assembled from the factory. The only problems during the first week were a few electrical connectors that had shifted, which were resolved in seconds.”
What do the operators think? “Everyone at GMD is absolutely delighted with the Nyala. The print quality is exceptional, and the machine is remarkably user-friendly. Our entire team enjoys working with it and has nothing but positive feedback. Furthermore, the maintenance process is exceptionally straightforward.”
How is it being used?
“We primarily print on rigid boards, cardboard, Foamex, ACM, acrylic glass, and other similar materials. We also utilise the roll-to-roll option on our Nyala printer. We are open to printing on virtually any substrate. We rarely refuse projects/orders, as I strongly prefer to maintain control over all processes and quality. We strive to handle even challenging projects in-house, regardless of equipment limitations.”
In January this year SwissQprint announced the Nyala 5, with an all-new platform that’s beefed-up and capable of 23% greater throughput. “The Nyala 5 wasn’t available when we ordered, otherwise, we might have chosen it,” says Gadliauskas. “If our plans succeed, we’ll move our Nyala 4 to our EU company and replace it with a Nyala 5 in the UK. A second Nyala 5 is also possible, but we’d need a larger space, as our 420sqm unit would become too small.”
What’s next?
Gadliauskas has big plans for this year. “Just before Christmas last year, we acquired a DG Dimensor S printer, which can produce raised and textured wallpaper,” he says. “Due to an intense workload from December to March, we had limited time to explore its capabilities fully. However, we have now begun developing our own designs for this intriguing technology. We are also about to place an order for a second Colorado. On top of this we are looking to purchase a 5m roll-to-roll UV printer, ideally by the end of this year. At the moment we’re going through all brands and will be choosing the one we like the most.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Process Piezo inkjet 18 heads, nine channels
Resolution 1,350dpi
Colours CMYK plus five from a choice of light cyan, light magenta, light black, orange, neon yellow, neon pink, primer, opaque white and clear varnish
Curing UV-LED
Max sheet size 3,200x2,030mm full bleed (3.2x4m with extension tables)
Max sheet thickness 50mm
Max sheet weight 100kg/sqm
Max roll width 3,200mm or 2x1,524mm
Throughput 206sqm/hr (fastest), 103sqm/hr (production), 70sqm/hr (quality), 37sqm/hr (fine art)
Price From £290,000 to £320,000
Contact SwissQprint UK 01344 929580 www.swissqprint.com
COMPANY PROFILE
GMD Print & Install is a large-format signage and graphics company in south east London, and expanding online. Set up in 2017 it originally offered just installation services, but moved into print about three years ago. Today it operates the Nyala 4 and Canon Colorado printers, and is exploring 3D-textured wallpapers with a DG Dimensor S printer. It is planning to order a second Colorado this year, while an expansion into an EU country may see the Nyala 4 be transferred there, to be replaced by a Nyala 5.
Why it was bought...
GMD was established as an installation company but expanded into print to handle start-to-finish commissions
How it has performed...
“It has significantly enhanced our print speed and quality,” says Gadliauskas “Quality has always been my top priority, it’s a fundamental principle for me. The Nyala delivers exceptional quality with increased speed and easier production.”
