With simplicity, flexibility and pragmatism, mixed in with fun and creativity, as Imprint Group’s ethos, it is easy to recognise that you’re dealing with a dynamic company. Established as a small format litho and screen print service provider over 30 years ago, the business has evolved radically to the large and small format digital and large format screen service provider it is today, boasting 72 employees and a turnover of ￡7.5 million.
“About 12 years ago we got to a crossroads where we had to decide how we wanted to continue developing our business,” comments Paul Newton, group operations director at Imprint. “At that point, we made the decision to focus our energy on large format digital printing. We continued widening our service offering, and in doing so acquired a large format screen printing business in 2007. We haven’t looked back since.”
Continued expansion saw a move in 2010 to its state-of-the-art 80,000 square feet production facility in Newcastle upon Tyne, where it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to ensure it upholds tight turnaround times. The company specialises in offering high quality point-of-sale print, and differentiates itself through its stringent colour management standards, bespoke online print management solutions, creative expertise and ISO14001 environmental standards accreditation. In addition, Imprint places exceptional service and maintaining close customer relationships high on its agenda, and expects this in return from its suppliers.
A long-term relationship
Imprint has benefitted from a close relationship with Fujifilm since it started operating, having used its Sericol inks from day one. When the company changed direction and pioneered a large format digital print offering, it was through Fujifilm that it selected and installed two Inca Eagle and two Inca Spyder V digital flatbed devices.
These were replaced in 2010 when Imprint became the first print service provider in the world to install three Inca Onset S20 devices from Fujifilm, which are complemented by one remaining Spyder V.
Paul comments, “We continually evaluate our business to ensure we have the best devices that will help us differentiate ourselves from our competitors and offer a more comprehensive service. Over the years, Fujifilm has proved that it is, like us, an open, straight talking company that we can trust, and we have complete confidence in our long-term relationship with them.”
Widening the digital horizon
It was this confidence that led to Imprint’s further investment with Fujifilm when it established its small format digital department in 2011.
Graeme Wilkie, Group IT director, explains the decision to widen Imprint’s service offering, “A large number of our clients had additional print needs for their marketing campaigns, which we as a POS service provider weren’t able to fulfil in-house at the time. With run lengths shortening and a growing number of requests from marketers to include variable data in their campaigns, investing in small format digital was the natural decision to make.”
Imprint investigated a number of devices, and the Xerox iGen4 came out as the market leader with its litho quality print, and ability to print on bigger sheet sizes and a wider variety of substrates, including plastics. So, after testing the printer at Fujifilm’s Imaging Centre in Bedford and getting feedback from the market on the results, the company placed an order with Fujifilm which included an extensive range of Duplo finishing equipment.
Once the device and finishing equipment had been installed, Fujifilm and Imprint worked closely to ensure optimum production levels were achieved and its initial targets were met. The new digital department has also helped the company expand its customer base into new market segments and different industry sectors.
“The quality of the print we’re achieving from the iGen4 is superior to anything we’ve seen on other digital devices we tested. We’re getting a much punchier image without having to add other special effects, while the Duplo finishing equipment slots in perfectly with the device,” says Graeme. “In addition, the XXL sizes it prints enable us to take on a number of jobs we might not have been able to fulfil otherwise – just another added benefit of the device.”
Always committed
Paul concludes, “Throughout the years we’ve been dealing with Fujifilm, we have come to appreciate that when they commit, they always deliver. This is completely in line with the type of service we aim to offer our customers, and I am confident that we’ve made the right decision to continue working with them on this investment.