Based on the island of Portland, south of Weymouth, the business urgently required a replacement for an aging device that had reached the end of its life, and having heard positive reviews about Mimaki technology, the team saw the investment as an opportunity to futureproof its business.
Installed in January after placing the order in December 2024, the device was supplied by authorised Mimaki reseller Printmax, with additional support from the manufacturer’s UK & Ireland distributor Hybrid Services.
Print Team (Dorset) company secretary and founder Chris Smith, who runs the family business alongside two of his sons, joint managing directors Martyn and Damian Smith, said: “We couldn’t afford downtime, and the effort they went to in getting the printer to us quickly made all the difference.”
The company has been impressed by the machine’s cutting precision, enhanced by intermediate registration marks generated by the Mimaki RasterLink RIP software. According to Smith, this feature has ensured far greater accuracy in print-and-cut jobs while maximising media usage.
Martyn Smith said he found the RIP more intuitive than the system he’d used previously.
“In a matter of hours, I was completely comfortable with it. The enhanced cutting functionality and superior colour matching capabilities have also been major plus points.”
The addition of orange ink has also proven useful, particularly for corporate branding projects.
“Estate agent boards, for example, now feature vibrant, colour-accurate prints that stand out far more than those produced on direct-to-board printers. Thanks to the Mimaki’s eight-colour SS21 inkset, the colours really pop,” he added.
Meanwhile, the machine’s multi-media roll feed system enables the team to switch between materials effortlessly, saving both space and time for the business.
Established in 1991, Print Team (Dorset) provides signage, vinyl graphics, and specialist printed products to both local and national customers.
The company’s ongoing plans include further automation and the launch of a new website to enhance customer engagement and order processing.
