Colour Graphics in £700k wide-format spend

Colour Graphics has invested around £700,000 on new wide-format machinery to bring in new business and ramp up its turnover by 25% in the next year.

The Walsall-based business took delivery of a Durst Rho P10 250 HS UV inkjet printer around five weeks ago, bought direct from the manufacturer, while an EFI Vutek FabriVu 340 fabric printer will be installed later this month alongside a Klieverik calender, both of which will be supplied by CMYUK.

The new kit has replaced an EFI Vutek QS3 Pro, which has been part-exchanged, as well as an MTEX 5032 Pro, which is being sold on.

“We got into textile printing three years ago and it’s just grown hugely,” said director James Birch.

“The FabriVu will enable faster turnarounds and higher production volumes to cater for the higher demand that we’re getting for fabric. Having the offline calender gives us a wider spectrum of materials that we can use as opposed to printing direct with inline fixation.

“We’ve also just installed an automated saw system so we’re now producing all of the aluminum tension profiles in-house for exhibition systems and freestanding light boxes so we can be more competitive when selling into the trade.”

The Durst printer has been taken on to boost the company’s efficiency in areas including banner stands for exhibitions and events, poster printing and other signage and outdoor displays. Light boxes, canvases, wallpaper and art will also be printed on the machine.

“Durst invited us to [its production facility in] Lienz and we were so highly impressed by the quality of the product and the company itself, which is why we took the jump to invest in the P10,” said Birch.

“It’s going absolutely terrifically – speed, quality and reliability are fantastic. It takes our business to another level.”

The new kit joins existing Durst and HP printers and a range of cutting machinery.

Family-owned Colour Graphics employs 18 staff across its two 650sqm units and is targeting a turnover of £2m for the current financial year. It is primarily a trade printer but also specialises in large-format retail POS, exhibition and agency work.