COMPANY SPOTLIGHT / SWISSQPRINT Worth the extra pinch? ◄ Erskine Stewart, managing director of swissQprint UK SwissQprint is a manufacturer of high-end large-format UV printing systems and whilst the company is the first to acknowledge that its machines come with a slightly higher price point than some others operating in this field, we take a look at some of the things that could set this technology apart from the rest, from energy savings to long lifespans and modularity. Last year saw swissQprint celebrate its 15th anniversary with the company starting out as a six-man operation and growing to become an international company with 200 employees over that time. Founders Reto Eicher, Roland Fetting, and Hansjörg Untersander set out with a crew of six in 2007 and despite a financial crisis, launched the first swissQprint flatbed printer. Today, the company is headed by the overarching swissQprint Holding which is then broken into swissQprint AG (HQ and manufacturing) and swissQprint subsidiaries of which there are six comprising the UK, Germany, Benelux, Spain, US, and Japan. The manufacturer’s portfolio features six models of flatbed printers including the Kudu, Nyala 4 and 4S, Impala 4 and 4S, and Oryx 4. The roll-to-roll line-up comprises of the Karibu 2 and S models. First to be launched was Oryx, followed by the Impala and Nyala in 2010. Five years later and the company had sold its 500th printer and in 2017 launched its first LED models. In 2018, swissQprint sold its 1,000th printer and shortly went on to launch the Karibu in 2019, and the Karibu S and Neon ink technology in 2021. The most recent machine to launch was the Kudu in May 2022. Opened in 2019, the company’s UK subsidiary is located in Bracknell and includes a demonstration centre with a Nyala 4 and Karibu, a training centre, and a full stock of ink, consumables, and spare parts for the UK and Ireland. We paid a visit to the swissQprint UK site where we had the opportunity to experience both the flatbed and roll-to-roll capabilities from the manufacturer. Erskine Stewart, managing director of swissQprint UK told us: “swissQprint’s design philosophy around flatbeds is the belief that a true flatbed is the best way to achieve precise accurate printing because you’re controlling the substrate on the flatbed. We see that as a real advantage in delivering the quality that’s in our name effectively. “One of the great benefits of UV and flatbed printing in particular is that you’re able to print on a very wide range of substrates and media. You can print on acrylic, foam board, paper, and glass, we’ve got companies printing on steel and saw blades, so quite a wide range of substrates which is a real benefit.” Most recently in 2022, the Nyala was voted a favourite in Europe thanks to research by Geneva-based market research company Infosource. The study found that for seven consecutive years the model has been the leader in the category ‘UV flatbed/hybrid printers 152.4cm wide in the €130,000 – €500,000 (£111,000 – £427,000) price segment compared to the other brands and models surveyed. Modular and versatile Less than two decades after the company first launched and over 1,600 swissQprint machines are currently in operation worldwide with sales and service all handled by six subsidiaries and over 30 distribution partners. Despite being installed globally, the development and production of the machines remain in Switzerland where the company is headquartered. Whilst the company’s technology does come with a slightly higher price point than other options, the focus is very much on reliability and durability alongside quality and this can be seen in the finished products. The machines offer versatility due to upgradable components and modular options and have a service life of up to 12 years with low maintenance; which minimises service calls and consumable parts that need replacing. “One of the key benefits of swissQprint is that all the machines are very modular. You’re able to configure them to your needs and the machine can grow with your business,” Stewart says, adding: “You can start out with an Impala and a single row of printheads and in three years’ time, decide you want to double your productivity on that machine and add a second row of printheads. It’s a huge amount of configurability available which is a huge benefit.” Outlining some of the company’s recent updates to its kit, Stewart describes the launch of Karibu 2 as an exciting development in swissQprint’s roll-to-roll range which was first launched in 2019. Stewart explains that this addition to the line-up was to meet the demand from existing customers who wanted to have all the benefits that they’ve experienced from swissQprint flatbeds such as the reliability, precision, and service element. Another addition is the launch of the new Q1280i printhead which can achieve fine text of 2 points both in white and colour, smoother tones, and also increased productivity in some quality modes. “The Kudu is another big step for us and it’s an exciting development because we’ve taken a completely different view of the design, engineering and technology within our flatbed range,” Stewart says. “We’ve introduced a tenth channel now, so we have ten configurable channels in that system, and three rows of heads which allows us to print up to 300sq m per 2007 – swissQprint founded 2019 – swissQprint UK opened 90% – of parts made in Switzerland 8 – machines in portfolio 200 – suppliers are Swiss enterprises Statistics 24 From energy savings and long lifespans to modularity and versatility, what sets swissQprint machines apart from other options in a busy market of high-quality wide-format print technology? email: news@signlink.co.uk February / March 2023 - Issue 245
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