“We’ve had a few reasonably good years and the investments have been largely funded by the business as well as invoicing finance. We’re really positive, the business has grown together and most importantly it’s been sustainable. We’ve certainly not gone mad,” said Rocket managing director Tim Porter. As part of the growth plan Gary Egan has joined as production manager, Andy Webb has been appointed to project manage a number of key client events and Steven Silverton joined to head up Rocket’s newly created retail division. The firm is also looking to further boost its installation teams and artwork studio later this year. The appointments follow the Watford firm taking on an additional factory unit over Christmas 2012, doubling its floor space. This enabled it to install a raft of refurbished kit, including a 3.2m-wide EFI Vutek QS3200 UV flatbed, two Mimaki JV5 series roll-to-roll printers, and a Zünd G3 digital cutter. “We’ve started to do a lot work in sport hospitality branding, which increasingly involves temporary walls wrapped with large-format graphics rather than the traditional, build, skin and paint structures,” said Porter. “The market seems to be growing and growing and the QS is perfect for that type of work because it enabled us to produce high-quality wraps up to 3.2m wide and most of the walls are up to 3m.” High-profile events the company has worked on this year include the Champions League Final at Wembley, Silverstone and the Paris Air Show. It also has a strong presence in the retail sector. The company also installed a refurbished 5m-wide HP Scitex solvent printer last year, which according to Porter enabled it to offer grand-format printer and gain a foothold in the fascia market. The company is now mulling an investment in a second grand-format press. The business is on track to achieve £4.2m in sales this year, compared to £3.3m last year and the company is targeting £5m next year. According to Porter, just as importantly the firm has so far maintained margin as it has grown. Once we got through £3m, which we had been trying to achieve for a number of years, it signalled a real step change in the business. We were lucky to get the services of ex-Service Graphics finance director David Wicks, who came on board to help drive growth and without him we might not have seen all these opportunities or grasped them,” said Porter. Wicks joined the business last April in a business development/finance role and helped Porter create a three-year growth plan....

The 36in Designjet T920 and T1500 ePrinters have been designed by the manufacturer following “extensive engagement” with users to identify specific printing problems faced by designers in certain industries. As a result, the printers enable users to view and print projects from the cloud in order to collaborate more easily with colleagues in different teams and different locations. Both systems can deliver an A1/D-sized print in 21s, which the manufacturer claims is the fastest on the market, and feature integrated output-stacking trays built on top of the printers to deliver flat, collated prints. The new models are the latest in HP’s Designjet range, which was first launched more than 20 years ago. “Our customers constantly seek more efficient and user-friendly tools to bring their ideas to life,” said Ramon Pastor, HP’s vice-president and general manager of Large Format Printing. “More than two decades after the launch of the first Designjet printer, HP continues to bring design, architecture, engineering and construction professionals large-format printing solutions with innovative features that transform the in-house printing process as well as allow users more time for creativity.” Expected to be available worldwide from 8 July the list prices are estimated at €3,650 (£3,100) and €5,650 for the T920 and T1500 respectively....

The 36in Designjet T920 and T1500 ePrinters have been designed by the manufacturer following “extensive engagement” with users to identify specific printing problems faced by designers in certain industries. As a result, the printers enable users to view and print projects from the cloud in order to collaborate more easily with colleagues in different teams and different locations. Both systems can deliver an A1/D-sized print in 21s, which the manufacturer claims is the fastest on the market, and feature integrated output-stacking trays built on top of the printers to deliver flat, collated prints. The new models are the latest in HP’s Designjet range, which was first launched more than 20 years ago. “Our customers constantly seek more efficient and user-friendly tools to bring their ideas to life,” said Ramon Pastor, HP’s vice-president and general manager of Large Format Printing. “More than two decades after the launch of the first Designjet printer, HP continues to bring design, architecture, engineering and construction professionals large-format printing solutions with innovative features that transform the in-house printing process as well as allow users more time for creativity.” Expected to be available worldwide from 8 July the list prices are estimated at €3,650 (£3,100) and €5,650 for the T920 and T1500 respectively....

The Lancashire-based firm installed the new £36,000 wide-format machine last month, through UK supplier I-sub Digital, as a replacement for a six-year old model of the roll-to-roll inkjet printer. The Mimaki JV5 roll-to-roll printer is available in four- or six-colour configurations, has a maximum speed of 50sqm per hour and is offered with a choice of HS3 or SS21 solvent and ES3 eco-solvent inks. Heckford opted for SS21 outdoor-durable solvent inks, which do not require pressroom ventilation and are supplied in two-litre ‘eco-sacks’ delivered in 100% recyclable packaging. Pressroom manager at the circa 50-staff company Pawel Dunaj said that with the new inks, the upgrade provided a more comfortable working environment than with the HS3 inks used with the older model and was far more efficient. “The new JV5 with bulk SS21 inks has been a real improvement for us. I can safely say there are almost no fumes or odour and we no longer need a carbon filter,” he said. “The bulk ink system is also useful because we don’t need to replace the inks as often.” Dunaj said one of the machine’s highlights was that it enabled the company, which specialises in high-quality vinyl, signage, exibition and interior and exterior displays, to produce PVC banners at 40sqm per hour “at great quality”. I-sub Digital director Andy Spreag said: “It is a great testament to the JV5 printer that a respected company like Heckford has chosen to purchase the same machine as they did six years ago. “It demonstrates that Mimaki JV5 technology is still offering fantastic print quality at the fast production speeds normally associated with grand-format machines.”...

The Lancashire-based firm installed the new £36,000 wide-format machine last month, through UK supplier I-sub Digital, as a replacement for a six-year old model of the roll-to-roll inkjet printer. The Mimaki JV5 roll-to-roll printer is available in four- or six-colour configurations, has a maximum speed of 50sqm per hour and is offered with a choice of HS3 or SS21 solvent and ES3 eco-solvent inks. Heckford opted for SS21 outdoor-durable solvent inks, which do not require pressroom ventilation and are supplied in two-litre ‘eco-sacks’ delivered in 100% recyclable packaging. Pressroom manager at the circa 50-staff company Pawel Dunaj said that with the new inks, the upgrade provided a more comfortable working environment than with the HS3 inks used with the older model and was far more efficient. “The new JV5 with bulk SS21 inks has been a real improvement for us. I can safely say there are almost no fumes or odour and we no longer need a carbon filter,” he said. “The bulk ink system is also useful because we don’t need to replace the inks as often.” Dunaj said one of the machine’s highlights was that it enabled the company, which specialises in high-quality vinyl, signage, exibition and interior and exterior displays, to produce PVC banners at 40sqm per hour “at great quality”. I-sub Digital director Andy Spreag said: “It is a great testament to the JV5 printer that a respected company like Heckford has chosen to purchase the same machine as they did six years ago. “It demonstrates that Mimaki JV5 technology is still offering fantastic print quality at the fast production speeds normally associated with grand-format machines.”...