Cardiff-based 3 Sixty has installed an EFI Vutek h5 from CMYUK, the fifth wide-format printer it has bought from the company in the past decade.
The 3.2m hybrid inkjet press prints at 1200dpi and boasts eight colour modes plus white, meaning it can offer up to nine layers in a single pass. According to 3 Sixty’s managing director Richard Inkin this installation is the company’s most significant to date, and one which is set to be a real ‘game-changer’ for the business.
‘Three years of research and with the kit in place we were ready to take the new dye sublimation products to market,’ Mr Inkin said. ‘However, we decided to focus on working with clients to increase their speed times to market, hence the investment in the h5.’
Ben Newton, commercial director added that, ‘Less than 3% of the work we process is on paper and board, we use print machines to make products rather than just to print.
‘We looked at all other options but for us, the h5 with its flexibility of materials, amazing quality, speed to market, capacity increase, efficiency and reduction of carbon footprint meant that it was a no brainer.’
Prior to the h5 investment, CMYUK guided 3 Sixty through the Government’s CBIL Scheme. The boundaries of the scheme have recently been updated and now CBILS can be used to directly support capital asset finance.
Jon Price, finance director at CMYUK explained, ‘One of the great advantages is that you can use CBILS to refinance your existing assets as well as looking at new or even second-hand purchases. You can combine a new asset purchase with the financing of other equipment. This means that your existing overheads remain the same but you have added another asset to your arsenal which is making you more efficient, more competitive, and more profitable.’
