First Colour, a 24 hour print service provider based in London, has installed the UK’s first Canon Arizona UV 135 GT flatbed printer as part of an ambitious wide-format print growth strategy.

The company, which has a 4500sqft production space just off Oxford Street, had traditionally been a specialist in super-fast turnaround small-format print, but has changed focus over the last four years after identifying opportunities in the wide-format market.

Cliff Finn, owner and managing director at First Colour, explained, ‘We were aware of the stagnation in recent years within the small-format market as pressures from the internet took a predictable toll. We identified wide-format print as having positive growth – and in Central London, 24-hour operators like us providing a fast turnaround wide-format service just didn’t exist.

‘Naturally, we wanted to be active within a growth market and wide-format is just that. We love wide-format print as a creative process and the fact that it must be based on a real human customer relationship that involves trust and working together. This isn’t something that’s ever going to be on the internet.’    

The Canon Arizona 135 GT, which was launched earlier this year, can print at speeds up to 34.2sqm/hr and is able to handle a wide range of substrates up to 51mm thick. The printer was installed at First Colour in early October, along with a Summa flatbed cutting system, and while staff training is continuing, Mr Finn says they already have plenty of work scheduled in for the new machine. 

‘We have our bread-and-butter work to properly establish first,’ the MD said, ‘but there are lots of other markets we can look at with the new Canon that we couldn’t previously access. For example, we plan on recruiting additional sales personnel later this year to help us move into hard signage and develop that side of the business.

‘Before the pandemic, we operated an entry level hybrid board printer which got us into the marketplace, but it was always the plan to acquire a high-quality flatbed printer. If I’m honest, we always hankered after a Canon machine.

‘Canon is the ultimate printer’s choice and the best in the market, but we didn’t think our budget would stretch that far. However, after an initial discussion with Adapt, we were surprised to find that the new 135GT was on a par price-wise with competing solutions.’

Duncan Smith, country director, Production Printing Products, Canon UK & Ireland added, ‘We are delighted that our long term-partner Adapt has been able to support First Colour in driving forward its wide-format growth strategy. The Arizona UV 135 flatbed printer boasts incredible image quality, productivity and flexibility, making it ideal for PSPs who are looking to expand into new areas. This is the first device of its kind to be installed in the United Kingdom, and we’re excited to see how it will help First Colour develop its business and customer base.’