The EFI VUTEk 5r+ features a number of new innovations such as a redesigned platform chassis for improved media advance, higher robustness, and sustainability. In addition to this, a newly developed printing algorithm features pulse, temperature, voltage, and frequency for higher density and quality improvement. The printer also offers upgraded media handling accessories such as the 7.6cm metal bar for improved 5m-wide media loading and optional features such as a Winder Motorised Air Shaft which can handle media weights of up to 400kg at diameters of up to 50cm. Not the first EFI purchase for Rocket Graphics, the VUTEk 5r+ joins an EFI VUTEk LX3 UV LED 3.2m-wide hybrid and an EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340i in-line dye-sublimation printer. The company has worked with CMYUK for over a decade and it has exclusively supplied all the VUTEk products and its wide-format materials. “Our upgraded production capabilities that are in lockstep with our existing and future eco-friendly initiatives will ensure that our growth will be underpinned by a compelling and robust competitive edge,” says Antony Rider, sales director of Rocket Graphics, adding: “We are ready for the opportunities that 2023 will undoubtedly bring.” Another example of the way wide-format print kit can be used is by Get Sticking which recently invested in a Mimaki UCJV300-75 from CMYUK. The business was founded five years ago by Narendra Nardani who was originally a wedding photographer but decided to set up his own online business. Dubbed ‘The World’s cutest wall decorations for children’, Get Sticking offers self-adhesive wall stickers for children’s spaces for domestic, public, and commercial environments. Initially, Nardani outsourced the printing and cutting for his sticker artwork which featured themes of mermaids, space, unicorns, fairies, pirates, and animals produced exclusively for the company by selected designers. However, after sub-letting new premises, he decided to purchase a print and cut machine and begin producing his own print. As the business was growing organically, Covid-19 struck with lockdowns meaning there were a lot of people at home who were using their own desktop printers to produce their own creations. “I didn’t want to get lost in this sea of home producers and realised I had to differentiate myself,” Nardani explains. “I’d seen some incredible window stickers and found out they had been printed on a Mimaki and I realised that this technology would allow me to stand out from the crowd.” Impressed by the “slick professionalism of CMYUK’s website and its general marketing activity, Nardani reached out to Sue Hayward, sales director of equipment at the company. She arranged for him to have a demo on the printer straight away. The UCJV300-75 combines printing and cutting in one unit and offers five print layMARKET TRENDS / WIDE-FORMAT PRINT KIT PT.1 FINANCIAL SUPPORT Compass Business Finance is a specialist finance provider to the print sector, with an in-depth understanding of the market enabling it to talk its customers through their options and secure the funding needed, at the best possible rates. With the cost of living continuing to rise, it can be necessary to invest in more technology in order to increase earnings, however, with the price point of these large pieces of kit not insignificant, we spoke to David Bunker, director of the company to find out what support is available, and how to access it. What financial support options are available for wide-format kit? Typically, businesses will utilise asset-finance when purchasing large items of kit, enabling them to secure favourable interest rates, on either a lease or hire purchase agreement. When purchasing new equipment, it can also be an opportune time to review other finance agreements you have in place across the business, as you may be able to secure a more favourable rate by refinancing and combining the finance outstanding into one new agreement. In addition, there are Government support packages, such as the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) to help businesses gain finance, and tax incentives such as First Year Allowances and the Super Deduction to encourage investment. How can businesses learn about this support and go about accessing it? If you’re considering a new investment, or looking at refinance, the best thing to do is start a conversation with a finance provider like ourselves. It’s important to know your options and be able to make informed decisions. Networking with industry peers and being part of associations such as FESPA UK, BPIF, or IPIA can also prove highly beneficial. Are there any other considerations to take when investing in this kit? Before investing in new equipment, you need a well thought-out business plan in place to ensure it will, in time, pay for itself. If it’s replacing one or two pieces of existing equipment, this is fairly straightforward, however, if you’re offering additional services or planning to grow your customer base to fund it, you need to know where that business is going to be coming from. CASE STUDY One example is Hull-based wide-format trade print company RMC Digital Print which specialises in graphics for signage, exhibitions, and stage markets. Post-Covid-19, the company replaced two existing industrial wide-format printers with one superwide printer, providing the same printing capacity. RMC saved on support contracts of £56,000 per annum by paying nothing in the first year then £21,000 onwards. Nicole Spencer, managing director of RMC Digital Print, explains: “Only running one printer instead of two saves on electricity costs. Although we have the HP to pay on the printer, and both other printers were paid off, the cost savings outweigh the interest cost. We are only purchasing one set of inks and the new machine uses less ink.” The company also invested in more print technology to improve productivity, speed, and save money. Using LED curing, the machine can be put into sleep mode or shut down, which could not be done with the former machine. “As the current machine needs leaving on all the time, the compressor needs to be on too which uses a lot of energy. Using newer technology means we will use less ink and have less material waste. The service contract is cheaper, and we don’t pay for service in the first year,” Spencer adds. ▼David Bunker, director of Compass Business Finance ers which are ideal for strong and vibrant window stickers. With a small footprint of 800mm wide, the machine can be used to produce stickers, labels, and point of sale materials. Using the kit, Nadarni has produced a range of seasonal designs for Halloween and Christmas, and he is now looking into Valentine’s Day and Easter. 48 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 246 - April / May 2023
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