In the first of our ongoing series of Spotlight On… features, established wide-format sales and distribution specialist Stewart Bell here talks exclusively to Large Format Review about the experience which informed his decision to begin Digital Print Innovations (DPI) and the core values which motivate him to continue offering comprehensive solutions for the graphic display sector.
After more than 20 years in the graphic arts industry, Stewart Bell recognised the need for a service-oriented company catering to the complete wide-format workflow, including RIP software, printers and finishing equipment. In response, he began Digital Print Innovations (DPI), a Derbyshire-based customer-focused sales and distribution channel which provides the UK sign and display market with a fulsome choice of solutions suitable for an extensive array of applications and businesses.
Bell's experience in both printing and finishing products enables him to appreciate the types of products that will maximise a company’s performance from a holistic standpoint. He examines not only the engines that will best serve a customer but also the software which will drive it and the types of finishing products which will work well with the printers. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people grow their businesses,” he comments. “It’s so satisfying to know that you and your team have helped a customer to choose the perfect products for their needs, and for them to know that they’ll be supported by an end-to-end service. Richard Butler leads DPI’s technical team, and his experience has enabled us to further our ongoing support package.”
As the graphic arts market becomes increasingly demanding and print providers must find new routes to market from their production equipment, manufacturers respond with ever-more sophisticated products. Bell notes that the widening range of applications for which wide-format print is used necessitates engines that can print onto a broader choice of media. Machines must also offer unrivalled precision to support ever-growing expectations of colour fidelity and print quality.
“One of the most interesting aspects of wide-format printing is the sheer diversity of the applications which it is used for,” enthuses Bell. “From vehicle graphics to billboards, fine art canvasses to building wraps, the versatility of this sector’s output consistently fascinates me. There is always a new way of using print and a more ambitious manner in which to employ the technologies because the producers have to continue innovating; as a result, the manufacturers return printers to market which meet or surpass their customers’ expectations of quality and productivity.”
It was with this motivation that Bell and DPI decided to find machines that were less well known to the UK market, and that led the company to sole distribution agreements with WP Digital and MTL Print. “These are precise reliable production engines. The Virtu range from WP Digital is admired in architectural and industrial fields for its glass printing ability, but it’s also an incredibly adaptable machine for sign and display production,” Bell explains. “It can produce onto all the usual media, but also to unusual substrates, such as leather and aluminium foil. Meanwhile, the Meital from MTL Print has the high productivity changing tables for production houses that need to keep up with demanding clients. Combined with our Seiko and Epson solvent-based printers, Caldera and Onyx RIP software all complemented by production cutting tables from Esko Artwork, we can set our clients up with end-to-end solutions that offer diligence and diversity.”
Bell cites his time at NUR Macroprinters as a pivotal point in his career. Prior to the company’s acquisition by HP, Bell worked for the Israeli large-format ink-jet printer manufacturer as a UK sales manager. By demonstrating his expertise in identifying the most appropriate product for each customer, he established a wide professional network that valued his dedication to personalised service, ongoing support and a commitment to staying at the forefront of all technological developments within the field. Bell maintains that his close professional connections have reinforced his enjoyment of the industry.
“One of the greatest things about the large-format printing world is the people in it,” notes Bell. “There is a genuinely warm, convivial spirit – a sense that everyone’s there to push the products forward and drive innovation. There’s a friendly yet competitive edge to the graphic arts sector which keeps each business sharp, and I am proud to be involved in an industry with such vision and drive.”
Bell also views the earlier part of his career, during which he worked as a national account manager and later as a European sales manager for GBC, as instrumental in the professional path which he has chosen. His primary focus at this point was large-format industrial laminators but an increasing interest in emergent technical advances began to guide him towards printing rather than finishing.
“Between 1995 and 2000 I got my first taste of digital printing, and it soon became clear to me that this was where my future lay,” recalls Bell. “Digital technology was, and continues to be, one of the fastest evolving fields in which to work. In this industry, you always feel that you’re right at the cusp of innovation where a real commitment to research and development is crucial to remaining cutting edge. DPI is indicative of the dynamism of the market: we are dedicated to pushing technological boundaries and remaining at the forefront of this challenging, vibrant field.”
Bell predicts that the future of the graphic arts arena will largely be dominated by ethical discussions on greener technologies, such as the creation of more easily biodegradable inks and media. He also believes that the industry may become subject to stricter legislation on pertinent issues such as recycling and the use of plastics.
“As the public turns its attention more and more towards green concerns, businesses are going to have to adapt their practices to ensure that they comply with the requirements of an increasingly environmentally conscious society,” explains Bell. “This dedication to running sustainable businesses which minimise ecological impact has always been close to my heart. DPI is committed to providing products which can aid customers’ endeavours to run a more ecologically sound business.”
Although 2009 brought disappointment for Bell when Litho Supplies, for whom he was a national business development manager, went into administration, it also reinforced in Bell the need for a reliable sales and support channel to serve the UK market. “When Litho Supplies became insolvent there were numerous users who were going to be left without a stable provider of service and consumables for WP Digital and MTL Print’s machines, as well as future customers who would have no British provider. I also have solid and loyal relationships with both companies which I was determined to continue. In this way, 2009 brought opportunity too,” he affirms.
“There will be some extremely exciting announcements in 2011 relating to DPI’s progressive stance within the wide-format market-place,” concludes Bell. “Until then, the emphasis will remain on the ongoing provision of reliable products which maximise speed and quality, excellent advice and a robust customer support service.”
Outside of work, Bell enjoys motorcycle racing and touring, travelling, walking and admiring his children as they flourish and grow.
DPI is a display solutions provider formed to bring a fresh approach to the market. With combined technical experience of 65 years within the printing industry, DPI is the exclusive distributor for WP Digital and Meital UV-curing machines in the UK and Ireland. The company also supplies a range of selected display equipment, including Seiko II print technology and Esko Artwork’s Kongsberg cutting solutions, to provide start-to-finish graphics production solutions. Its comprehensive technical support is fully UK-based for both hardware and software.
For further information about DPI’s products and services visit their website at www.dpi-uk.com, contact Stewart Bell on +44 (0)1332 856355 or +44 (0)7540 726235, by e-mail at info@dpi-uk.com or at Digital Print Innovations Ltd, The Old Vicarage, Market Street, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2JB, UK. DPI is also on Twitter at @DigitalPrintInn
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