Wincanton Print has invested in an Agfa :Anapurna M2050 wide format inkjet printer to expand the services it can offer its customers.

In an effort to broaden the appeal of the company, Wincanton Print conducted a survey of its 400 customer database to see if they could capture their exhibition, POS and display material business in addition to their litho work. The response was very positive, subject of course to price and quality.

Wincanton Print looked at a range of leading manufacturers’ equipment but, having had a good experience with its Agfa Graphics prepress equipment over many years, the company was initially moving in the direction of the popular :Anapurna M1600. Then, after further consideration, Steve Taylor, MD of Wincanton Print, decided to go for the 2 metre wide and 6-colour + white :Anapurna M2050 instead. This, they believed, would be a better longer term investment because the larger width of the machine would increase the variety of work it could produce. Wincanton Print went even further and also invested in a Zund cutting table, as recommended by Agfa, and these machines are now both housed in their new premises.    

“We have always enjoyed a good working relationship with Agfa so we knew their recommendations would be solid; the :Anapurna has done everything they said it would, and more. It has already proved to be a cost effective investment and the quality is fantastic,” explained Steve Clark, studio manager at Wincanton Print. “Both the printer and cutting machine have proved to be easy to use and are managed by one of our press minders who believes the addition of inkjet to our printing portfolio is a very positive move for the future,” he added.

It is just a few months since the display equipment became operational but Wincanton Print has already won new business from its existing clients and has made a striking impression at this year’s Royal Bath & West Country Show where the company received a bronze medal for the non-agricultural display. Its stand featured images of the Aston Martin Racing Le Mans race car - a major long-standing customer of Wincanton Print.

“We started working for the Arrows F1 Racing team followed by the Renault F1 team. Then about five years ago we were approached by Aston Martin Racing and now produce all the print display material for the racing events such as Le Mans. It is a high profile account, which requires the very best quality print,” explained Peter Vallis, sales director at Wincanton Print.

“This investment has also given us the confidence to establish a web-to-print facility to further expand our business. To prosper, we believe printers need to diversify to offer customers a total service and wide-format POS and display is a logical way forward,” concluded Steve Clark.