The Big Interview
machines. Prior to the European launch at FESPA, we had been selling the inks for about a year, but we wanted to make sure the product was absolutely bomb proof before we introduced it fully to the market. It had to work every time, first time.” “Yes, thatʼs right,” agrees Robin. “We couldnʼt risk the name of Adkins being associated with a failure.” Paul adds: “Iʼve worked with
sublimation inks for quite a few years and the inks in the SubliSure range are one of the most stable and consistent I have ever come across and I come from an end-user background.”
The acquisition of Isub Education last year instantly gave the company access to around 500 schools. Upon introducing the SubliSure range to the schools, Robin estimates that around 98% of them converted over from alternative inks. “We are around 15% cheaper than other brands and much better quality,” he says.
“With a lot of other ink brands you have to flush
your machine out and introduce new inks. Schools canʼt afford to
Adkins’ old factory layout in Hinckley
Series 10 and measures 1.5x2.5m, which would easily fit a 4ft sheet.
“When you see these machines, they are beasts,” continues Paul. “Itʼs a market we have been dabbling in for a while, but now we are actively going to target this market.”
do that,” says
Paul. “With our inks, if your cyan runs out you can just take it out, replace it with a new cartridge, alongside the other cartridges. And if you change over to the SubliSure range, you wonʼt notice any difference in colour as colour metrically we match all of the ICC colour profiles and you get perfect results.”
Moving into wide format
Adkins also has its eye on another market. During the next 12 months Adkins is looking to actively target the wide format market. “Weʼve got the machines to service this market,” says Paul. Adkinsʼ widest calendar press is 2m, with another two measuring 1.7m and 1.2m. Its largest flatbed press is the
Marie adds: “I can see us selling more large format presses in the near future, not because they are being used in high- volume factory environments, but because decorators are using them for a wider range of
Beta Maxi
products, rather than a standard T shirt.”
The cost of Adkinsʼ calendar presses places them within the realm of accessibility for start-up businesses. “The 1.2m calendar is now sub £10,000 and when this is matched with an entry-level printer, you can be in production for less than £25,000. Whereas many years ago that would have been £30,000, £40,000 or even £50,000,” says Paul. With these machines now within reach for many start-up businesses, this in turn fuels the local economy. Start-up businesses are likely to target local clubs, schools and associations, which also helps them to raise their own profile. As these businesses grow, they then in turn
Every single press, before they leave our workshop in the UK, gets put on a bench and is checked from top to tail to ensure they meet safety standards.
– Robin Carter-Browne, sales consultant, Adkins
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
The SubliSure ink and paper November 2018 | 63 |
outgrow their 1.2m press and upgrade to a 1.7m press, move out of their garage and into their own unit. Itʼs the circle of life. Adkins hopes to target more of these cottage industries in the near future with their calendar presses. And speaking of the future, Adkins has a machine in development at the moment which looks to bring the popular workhorse Beta Maxi into the 21st century. The press will be known as the Beta Super Maxi and has been developed as Robin says: “Purely because people have told us itʼs a lovely machine, very reliable, but not very sexy.” All three were keeping quiet about when this product would enter the market, but were keen to stress it was going to change the face of the Beta Maxi which hasnʼt changed a lot in 25 years. With heritage and quality in spades, Adkins is sure to still be here in 2118 celebrating its 200th anniversary – long out living the best of us.
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