The Worcester-based business, which has five sites throughout the UK, supplies products including wide-format and 3D printers from a range of manufacturers such as Canon, Ricoh, Xerox and HP, as well as specialist 3D manufacturer Stratasys. Following the recent merger of Stratasys with competitor 3D firm Objet, the range of 3D products available through Stanford Marsh has considerably expanded prompting the distributor to launch the dedicated sector website, www.smg3d.co.uk. Director at Stanford Marsh Matthew Perkins said: “This 3D site is designed to provide current and potential users of 3D print technology with the definitive source of 3D information. “It is broken down into industry sectors, so businesses can easily search for the 3D solutions that are most relevant to the areas they work in. “As well as searching for information on the expansive range of 3D printers we have on offer, customers can also view the relevant associated media and software,” he added....

The 11-staff business installed a six-colour Ryobi 526GX in January, which was closely followed by a two-back-two Ryobi 524GXP in March, both from Apex Digital Graphics. The B3 presses replaced a 10-year old Ryobi 525HXX. ColourXpress managing director Mike Corran said one of the reasons behind the investment was to introduce one-pass spot colour and coat on four colour jobs, which combined with the higher level of automation had substantially increased the company’s productivity. “Not only does it print faster, it also makes ready faster and when you combine that with the ability to seal in one pass, in effect we’ve been able to double the output of the five-colour HXX with the six-colour GX,” said Curran. He added that the PDSE inline scanning spectrophotometer was another major bonus of the investment. “The two GXs have boosted the quality and consistency of our output, it was good before – its just better now,” Corran said. The £500,000 spend, which also included infrastructure improvements to the firm’s facility, was partly financed through “meaningful five-figure” funding from ColourXpress’s local RDA. The firm wasn’t initially planning to buy the perfecting 524GXP, but following it securing a three-year NHS tender at the start of the year, which went live last month, it installed the second Ryobi. The firm has taken on two additional staff following the installation of the second press and Corran said that he was planning to double staffing levels to around 20 by the end of the year. The firm had sales of around £750,000 last year and Corran said it’s on course to achieve £1.2m this year. “When you combine the productivity of the two new presses we’ve actually quadrupled our total capacity and we’ve already filled that. I’m not sure if we’ve just been extremely lucky, but we’ve won a lot of contractual work nationally and locally,” Corran added. The company secured its funding from Plymouth University and Western Morning News Growth Fund. Corran said he effectively took a month off from his “day job” to apply for the funding, which involved a full business plan, including forecasts and trading statements. “It was definitely worthwhile though, because without the RDA funding we would not have been able to invest in the second press,” said Corran. The company offers a full cross-media service, including website design, e-marketing, variable print via its Xerox engines, as well as a fully functioning B2C storefront under a different name. It also has a physical high street presence as well as separate production facility. “In these troubled times the printers that are left usually have decent machinery and staff, so you are competing with the best of the best and all you’re left with...

The Worcester-based business, which has five sites throughout the UK, supplies products including wide-format and 3D printers from a range of manufacturers such as Canon, Ricoh, Xerox and HP, as well as specialist 3D manufacturer Stratasys. Following the recent merger of Stratasys with competitor 3D firm Objet, the range of 3D products available through Stanford Marsh has considerably expanded prompting the distributor to launch the dedicated sector website, www.smg3d.co.uk. Director at Stanford Marsh Matthew Perkins said: “This 3D site is designed to provide current and potential users of 3D print technology with the definitive source of 3D information. “It is broken down into industry sectors, so businesses can easily search for the 3D solutions that are most relevant to the areas they work in. “As well as searching for information on the expansive range of 3D printers we have on offer, customers can also view the relevant associated media and software,” he added....

The 11-staff business installed a six-colour Ryobi 526GX in January, which was closely followed by a two-back-two Ryobi 524GXP in March, both from Apex Digital Graphics. The B3 presses replaced a 10-year old Ryobi 525HXX. ColourXpress managing director Mike Corran said one of the reasons behind the investment was to introduce one-pass spot colour and coat on four colour jobs, which combined with the higher level of automation had substantially increased the company’s productivity. “Not only does it print faster, it also makes ready faster and when you combine that with the ability to seal in one pass, in effect we’ve been able to double the output of the five-colour HXX with the six-colour GX,” said Curran. He added that the PDSE inline scanning spectrophotometer was another major bonus of the investment. “The two GXs have boosted the quality and consistency of our output, it was good before – its just better now,” Corran said. The £500,000 spend, which also included infrastructure improvements to the firm’s facility, was partly financed through “meaningful five-figure” funding from ColourXpress’s local RDA. The firm wasn’t initially planning to buy the perfecting 524GXP, but following it securing a three-year NHS tender at the start of the year, which went live last month, it installed the second Ryobi. The firm has taken on two additional staff following the installation of the second press and Corran said that he was planning to double staffing levels to around 20 by the end of the year. The firm had sales of around £750,000 last year and Corran said it’s on course to achieve £1.2m this year. “When you combine the productivity of the two new presses we’ve actually quadrupled our total capacity and we’ve already filled that. I’m not sure if we’ve just been extremely lucky, but we’ve won a lot of contractual work nationally and locally,” Corran added. The company secured its funding from Plymouth University and Western Morning News Growth Fund. Corran said he effectively took a month off from his “day job” to apply for the funding, which involved a full business plan, including forecasts and trading statements. “It was definitely worthwhile though, because without the RDA funding we would not have been able to invest in the second press,” said Corran. The company offers a full cross-media service, including website design, e-marketing, variable print via its Xerox engines, as well as a fully functioning B2C storefront under a different name. It also has a physical high street presence as well as separate production facility. “In these troubled times the printers that are left usually have decent machinery and staff, so you are competing with the best of the best and all you’re left with...

Exclusive UK supplier for Spanish laminating film manufacturer, Derprosa, Graphic Image Films is now offering the company’s new Soft Touch range including new Black Soft Touch and Metalised Soft Touch films, which are suitable for both litho or digital printing. The newly available metalised range, which includes new colours solid red and blue matt films, can be over-printed, embossed, foiled or spot UV-coated. The company is targeting packaging firms of high-end products such as cosmetics, with the new metallic range. Graphic Image Films has also added gloss and matt BOPP-based, anti-bacterial films to its range, which are aimed at organisations where hygiene is paramount such as hospitals and children’s nurseries. The products are available in gloss and matt finishes. All prices depend on specification. Sales and marketing director Sandro Mosquera said that Graphic Image Films was unique in the UK with its ability to supply such a broad range of specialist laminating films in bespoke widths and reel lengths, with next day delivery. Mosquera said the new range of products on offer would allow clients in the printing and packaging industry to create more “luxurious and innovative” products. He added: “The market needs some new finishes like this, which is what everyone keeps telling us, instead of just going for the standard matt, gloss, silk for example.” “These products are BOPP-based meaning anyone with a standard laminating machine can work with them very easily so they are very adaptable. “We feel it is important for a company like ours to continually look for new products that our clients can then use to further improve their product range.” The 16-staff firm, based in Long Crendon, has a turnover of around £4.5m....