BUSINESS / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine 14 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 PrintClever launches DTG factory PrintClever, a print company based in Swindon, Wiltshire, has reported it is on track for a turnover of £8m after launching a direct-to-garment (DTG) factory in which around 3,000 garments are produced each day. Following investment of around £500,000 into its premises including the purchases of multiple high-end pieces of machinery, the founders are proud of the “incredible journey” they have experienced in expanding the company after its big step into the DTG market. Starting out as a small business operating from a home garage, the business now operates from a large factory which employs 80 members of staff which increased to 130 over the festive period to deal with seasonal demand. Since its expansion, the team has achieved major deals with household names, music corporations, gaming companies as well as a Hollywood film studio. Founder and chief executive officer Ryan Acres, comments: "Back in March 2022, we took a bold step forward into the direct-to-garment industry, buying our first Brother machine. "Fast forward 20 months and we've really made our entrance into the market, becoming one of the UK's largest print-on-demand garment manufacturers. It's been an incredible journey.” The company invested in various folding, embroidery, and pre-treatment machines as well as four Brother GTX Pro Bulks and four Brother GTX600s. PrintClever has experienced a number of challenges over the past eight years Resolute has announced an exclusive partnership with Image Armor to bring its direct-to-film (DTF) inks to the UK and EU. Produced in North America, the Image Armor DTF inks contain no ethylene glycol meaning they are a more environmentally friendly solution. However, quality is said to be maintained with the white ink in particular said to boast “remarkable opacity”. The inks also feature built in anti-clogging technology which ensures both a smoother printing process and reduced head cleans. As a result of the partnership, the Image Armor DTF inks are included in Resolute’s range of preferred inks. “Our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the printing industry has led us to partner with Image Armor,” says Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute. “Its DTF inks align perfectly with our mission to offer our customers the best, ensuring their prints are not only vibrant but also environmentally conscious.” [L to R] Brian Walker, chief executive officer of Image Armor and Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute Resolute brings DTF inks to UK and EU with Image Armor Record 2023 for swissQprint UK SwissQprint UK has celebrated a record year within the company as it saw an increase in sales and installations as well as new recruitments in the business. At the start of 2023, swissQprint delivered its first Kudu at MediaCo Group’s manufacturing site in Trafford Park, Manchester. MediaCo selected the machine due to its ten colour channels and CMYKLcLm ink setup. SwissQprint also installed its 100th machine in the UK at Stocksigns in Redhill, England. Investing in an Impala 4, Stocksigns had been using a first-generation Impala since 2010, the 15th swissQprint machine to be installed in the UK at the time. Since the arrival of the award-winning Kudu in swissQprint’s headquarters, the business has reported a ‘raft’ of demonstrations and six machines installed during 2023. In order to support the company’s new level of support and installations three new recruits have also joined the UK team. Yaroslav Kovalev and Kevin Hart, who are based in London and Manchester respectively, have both brought a significant amount of print and technical knowledge to the business in order to help customers with any complex queries. Bringing his experience of art working and design, Simon Payne has also joined the business in the applications team as a print solutions specialist. SwissQprint and the team from Stocksigns in front of their latest swissQprint Impala 4 FASTSIGNS Bolton has helped a family-run bakery chain to broaden its reach nationwide with new branding. Since being founded in Bolton in 1938, Carrs Pasties has expanded with several stores and resellers throughout the Northwest as well as newer locations in Nottingham, Birmingham, and Hereford. The bakery is endorsed by several Northern celebrities and even released a Cheese, Ham, and Chilli Jam pasty in partnership with Aardman studios to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers. FASTSIGNS Bolton assisted the company with several site surveys across the UK to establish the feasibility of the Carrs Pasties brand launching into other parts of the UK. The team designed, manufactured, and installed a full suite of branding solutions including bollard covers, window graphics, sign trays, and custom magnetic packs for pasties warmers. This project landed the Project of the Year Award at the 2023 annual FASTSIGNS convention. The work to increase Carrs’ brand awareness has led to increased sales and customer growth FASTSIGNS Bolton supports bakery By David Osgar By David Osgar
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