Pontypridd-based Bursali first started printing in May last year when it took on a Mimaki 1.8m-wide TS300P-1800, but as demand increased the company found it needed a faster machine.

The FT-1908 was supplied by Sabur in Barnsley and delivered last week. Jobs run on both machines are fed into a transfer printing press from Diferro to put the designs onto towels.

“Before the Brexit vote we outsourced our towel printing abroad,” said Bursali sales director Steve Vallender. “But after the vote, prices went up, so we installed our own dye-sublimation technology and now we can compete with any rivals abroad.

“When we used to send jobs abroad, lead times could range from anywhere between five and 16 weeks. Using our in-house kit, we can do jobs in seven days, which is a huge plus for our customers.

“Our DGI will take on higher production levels – the longer runs that need a faster turnaround. Because of its speed, running it alongside our Mimaki triples our capacity for jobs.”

DGI's Fabrijet FT-1908 runs at a maximum print speed of 113sqm/hr and can print resolutions up to 720dpi. It prints in four colours using water-based dyes.

Six-staff Bursali’s 2,790sqm premises comprise a factory and a showroom, which also runs various embroidery equipment. As demand continues to increase, Vallender said the DGI machine may not be the company’s last print-based investment.

“When we got the Mimaki we did not know what kind of difference it would make, but obviously it has been very successful for us,” he said. “Hopefully we will be buying another printing machine soon and from there we will buy whatever we need to keep up with demand.”