Sign & Graphics Services (SGS) offers wide-format services to retail, exhibition and sign & graphics industries from its base in Coleshill, Birmingham.

“We have established ourselves as a specialist in out-of-the-ordinary vehicle wraps,” said owner Mike Bolton who purchased the machine from Mimaki reseller CMYUK.

Bolton, who runs the business with wife Karen, paid £12,000 for the machine, which runs at around 50sqm/hr and at a resolution of up to 1,440dpi. Clients include the NHS and universities.

He hopes the printer, installed in the last week of May, will increase the company's £185,000 turnover by 20% in one year by pushing the business into new fields such as displays and shop-front fascias.

“The kit is solvent-based as opposed to latex, which is where the industry is going because it is quicker. Solvent is older technology but the print quality has always been good with Mimaki.

“I went for the JV150-160 because the colour is really vibrant. The speed is far from supersonic but in terms of consistency and quality of work, the machine is excellent.”

Bolton set up three-staff SGS just over three years ago after 22 years in the digital print industry and quickly created a niche in large-scale vehicle wraps for the mobile exhibition sector.

“We can complete a full double-decker bus wrap in around four days. Good teamwork and detailed preparation has made us pretty good at what we do,” he said.

Bolton added: “I was a big fan of the JV33 and when the new JV150 series came out I checked it out. The colour gamut and resolution even in four-colour mode is stunning.”

Projects included a double-decker bus promo Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and a Continental Tyres promotional vehicle for the 2014 World Cup involving cut vinyl graphics and digital print.