Wiltshire, UK-based Digital 23 has purchased a 3.2-metre-wide Mimaki UJV55-320 UV LED roll-to-roll printer from CMYUK.

The investment has enabled the business to now print all its textile work in-house, and provides a versatile platform from which it can expand into new markets.

“The Mimaki UJV55-320 is a gamechanger for us due to its size, speed and versatility,” said Calvin Hedley, joint owner of Digital 23.  “ What it’s allowed us to do is increase our product range and our production throughput time. We were previously outsourcing our fabric printing, with a four-day turnaround time. Now we can print as soon as a job is approved and the job is completed on the same day, saving us three days of production time. It’s a win/win for sales and production.”

Digital 23 was set-up by Hedley and his business partner David Pape in 2019. Both have extensive experience in the exhibitions industry and decided that rather than working for anyone else, they would go it alone.

A full-service large format digital printing business, Digital 23 specialises in exhibition graphics and services a diverse client base.  Silicon edge tension graphics, wall wraps, fabric prints and frames boards account for the majority of its printed output. 

“We have built up a loyal base of clients who have followed us through a progression of several different companies, so when we set up on our own we had an established customer base from day one,” said Hedley. 

Digital 23 started out with HP technology but during lockdown added a Mimaki solvent printer, the CJV30–130, which gave it the much-needed ability to print and cut. The move to investing in the UV printer was a natural progression.

“We were looking at wide machines as we were basically farming out our fabric print work and then finishing the prints in house as required,” Hedley said. “We had a really busy few months from August to November last year that just highlighted that fact that it made sense to bring the production of fabrics back in house. The Mimaki UJV55-320 fulfilled our primary goals but also because of the UV technology, we could add the versatility to produce a much wider range of printed substrates. We have also switched all our foamex board production over to it.  It’s given us the opportunity to expand into other markets like interior décor, because we now have full control and can offer competitive pricing and improved service.

“The exhibition industry has begun to bounce back well after the past 18 months of covid restrictions and we’ve now got everything we need to ensure we can meet and exceed our customers’ needs.”

www.cmyuk.com

www.digital23.co.uk