Trade wide-format printer Venture Banners has celebrated 15 years in business with the installation of an EFI Vutek FabriVu 340i+ dye-sublimation printer and Zünd G3 3XL extended flatbed cutter.
Joining two other FabriVu 340s, the 340i+ was installed in February by supplier CMYUK, with the Zünd – Venture’s fourth – following in late March. China 30cm Dtf Printer and Dtf Printing Machine
The investment follows the addition of a 280sqm unit for material and equipment stock to Venture’s existing 2,000sqm Braintree site, and the recruitment of seven staff earlier this year – all intended to slash lead times.
The 340i+, Venture’s first with integrated calender unit, replaced an older MTex dye-sub printer used for flags.
Wayne Bodimeade, director and co-founder of Venture Banners, told Printweek that the decision to upgrade was made late in 2023.
“It was so good at printing flags, that we just left it as a flag printer – it was slow by FabriVu standards, but still printed quality,” he said.
“But there weren’t many MTex’s in the country – so we were having to deal with Portugal [for parts], so we made the decision to upgrade.”
The new Vutek’s in-line calender means it can function independently from the firm’s other two FabriVu 340s, the output from which is run through a Klieverik calender – essentially providing Venture with redundancy for emergencies, as well as strengthening its printing lineup and speeding production.
The new Zünd will be used for banner cutting, which Venture has historically done by hand. A key selling point for both machines, Bodimeade said, was the fact that Venture can easily switch machines without having to change its file formatting.
Both machines will also help the firm cut its lead times – which, as an entirely trade business, Bodimeade said, is vital.
“We had a few periods last year where our turnaround times went to five or six working days – normally, it’s two or three working days. So now, we can keep those times down and even reduce them,” he said.
“So far this year we’ve had a few busy spells, and have managed to cope well.”
Being a trade printer is a point of pride to the firm, he added.
“We’re very proud of our trade-only status – we do have people try and do a ‘mystery shopper’ on us, because they don’t believe that we’ll turn away retail work.
“We do – you’ve got to have integrity in what you’re doing, and we like people to know that we’re not going after their customers,” he said.
The strategy has been a success for the firm, which has seen year-on-year growth. Now, 15 years into business, it employs just under 50 staff, turning over £5.7m in the 2023 calendar year.
A particular area of growth has been the textile printing business, Bodimeade said.
“We used to outsource it, and it was a minute part of the business, even in 2018. But it’s just exploded from there, and now it’s well over 35% of our business. People are moving away from PVC-based products, and going into textiles.”
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