The Big Interview Cre8ive Printer: hearing from the first customer of the CJV200-160
A welcoming reception area to the Hybrid Showroom
In conversation with Duncan, it became clear how customers reside at the heart of what Hybrid and Mimaki alike do; seeking to deliver solutions that offer quantifiable benefits for businesses with solutions like the new inks. Alongside the SS22 Sustainable Solvent option, the new BS4 ink is a budget solvent ink which has garnered popularity because of its price point.
The Mimaki TS330-3200DS The second printer to be introduced was the Mimaki TS330-3200DS, a 3.2m wide hybrid printer capable of both direct dye sublimation printing as well as transfer printing. The machine is so new that Hybrid’s demo machine was still in transit from Japan, but during my time with Duncan and the Hybrid team, I got a glimpse of a similar solution that operates with UV curable ink: the UJV55-320. While the UJV55 can print to similar polyester lightbox and exhibition graphics materials as the TS330-3200DS, it can also produce prints onto banner, wallpaper, vinyl and a number of other different materials. However, an interesting feature to the UJV55, is the ability to preview what the print will look like for a lightbox, thereby reducing time and waste of material.
With regards to the TS330, Duncan elaborated more on the printer’s hybrid capability of printing onto transfer paper and polyester. When asked what the benefits would be for the customer to own a printer which can print directly onto both paper and fabric, Duncan explained how it can help customers expand and diversify their product range, by offering a wider array of products that can be produced on the one machine. He said: “A graphics producer can therefore consider expanding into corporate décor, or even target the home market, taking their business into new areas while still using the hardware that’s servicing their core market. Historically, sign makers tended to make signs, or vehicle graphics companies simply focused on that market.
www.signupdate.co.uk
This year, Manchester-based Cre8ive Printer became the first customer of the new Mimaki CJV200-160, which is due to be installed later this year. Daryl Ng from Cre8ive Printer spoke about the company’s recent investment: Q: What were the reasons behind your investment in the CJV200-160? A: After buying and merging another printing company, our sticker printing side of the business has four to five times our existing order amount. So, we were looking for a new machine that can match our expectations. Q: What are the advantages of owning the Mimaki CJV200-160? A: With its new BS4 Eco-Solvent Ink it provides fast drying, low odour and cost efficiency in a four-colour set, balancing performance and affordability. Q: What made the CJV200-160 stand out?
The price and the quality of print. After seeing the machine in action at The Print Show, it had truly shown me it’s true capabilities for what it can handle in the new future for Cre8ive Printer.
“However, a key message we’ve been communicating for a very long time is that if you’re not saying ‘yes’ to a customer, then there’s a risk that somebody else will, which makes for a quick route to losing that customer’s business. If you’re producing pull-up banners, window graphics and menu boards and your customer asks if you can produce workwear, a ‘no’ could lead to them finding someone with a DTF printer that can, who may also have a solvent printer, and the next thing you know, you’ve lost a customer.”
It takes a team to fulfil a dream While in conversation about the TS330 and the need for diversification, Hybrid Services’ managing director, Brett Newman, kindly introduced himself at the perfect time. Diversification is a topic that Brett holds dear and he expanded on the conversation I’d had with Duncan to emphasise the importance of Hybrid’s showroom in helping customers understand the wider business opportunities that Mimaki’s technology can offer.
When I asked Brett what his favourite part of being Hybrid’s MD was, one word kept making its way to the forefront of the conversation: people. Brett made it instantly clear that his colleagues and customers are what gave him the most satisfaction, saying about his role: “100% it’s all about the people.”
He continued: “I’ve been fortunate enough to take people who were 16-year- old apprentices, that have gone on to run their own businesses and be very successful. It fills me with pride to say that I’ve helped them on their way.
There’s nothing greater than seeing somebody join you straight out of school or university, coming into the industry and going on the flourish.” While it was already apparent how Hybrid highly valued its customers, hearing the MD’s enthusiasm for educating and inspiring the next generation peeled back another layer to Hybrid’s generosity and warmth.
Crewe Alexandra FC’s official printer partner Just as Hybrid likes to see the newer generation along their way to success, so too does it invest time into the local community, having recently signed a three-year deal with Crewe Alexandra, becoming their official printer partner. As part of the deal, Duncan explained: “We’re helping them to decorate their main function room. It is currently devoid of any branding and print, so we’re going to be producing a lot of examples to create a much better feel to the space.” Brett added: “Hybrid has been in the Crewe area since the company was founded in 1996. We’ve been at our current location since 2006, and you can see the Crewe Alexandra stadium from the front of our building.” With the club in such close proximity to the showroom, a collaboration was inevitable.
During the course of my visit, Duncan, Brett and the rest of the team showcased the ways Mimaki consistently remains at the top with its innovative and forward- thinking technologies. What really stood out was Hybrid’s fostering of a warm, nurturing environment which invites enthusiasm from people of varying levels of industry knowledge and experience to make it a truly standout company.
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