Redditch-based start-up Webb Print & Display (WP&D) has invested in an EFI VUTEk h3 printer from CMYUK. Several nationwide retail campaigns have been produced on the 3.2 hybrid UV LED printer, generating forward momentum for the business, and attracting new clients.
The EFI VUTEk h3 joins 2 X Latex printers, a laminator and Kongsberg digital cutting table.
“The VUTEk h3 is the backbone to our operation. Having looked at various printers we kept coming back to it. The h3 ticks all the boxes. Although we have print partners should we need them for full scale jobs, we just haven’t required them as everything can pretty much go through the h3,” says Michael Corless, Owner and Director, Webb Print & Display.
“What I like about the VUTEk is its versatility – the different speeds and settings. The main thing was we knew we’d have a wide variety of work, so we needed our core press to provide the balance between speed and quality, as we would need our operators to easily switch as work required. We knew we had to have a hybrid, and it had to have the 3.2m width. There’s also the upgrade path to the h5, so instead of buying a second printer in the future, we can make the investment to transition to the bigger model.
“When it came to making the final decision, we had narrowed it down to the VUTEk and one other printer. The h3 came out on top for us though due to the width, versatility and speed which the HP couldn’t match up to. Knowing the type of clients we wanted and the work we wanted to deliver for them, we reached the purchasing investment in exactly the way we approach our jobs, i.e., what will our customers want and how do you put that together. We built our production facility around the h3 based on everything we were trying to achieve,” says Mike.
Best practice
Undoubtedly starting business in a pandemic has its own challenges but ten months in, the company is gaining traction. Mike is a seasoned print professional and has fashioned his new company to reflect the best practice he has witnessed and implemented throughout his 25 plus year career.
“I've been fortunate enough to work with some of the smartest people in our trade, and throughout my time in print I’ve looked at what makes businesses work top to bottom.” he says.
WP&D is a creative printer that can scale up and roll-out full national campaigns. It has a wide reach, servicing retail, events, pop-up shops, office fit outs and more, clearly mindful of how the pandemic has decimated certain sectors, damaging printers who have had an over dependency in these markets.
“I don't think any printer moving forward will want to stay in just one sector,” says Mike. “Whatever our customers need we can produce. From full campaign roll outs, to bespoke one off events, we’re brilliantly set up to deliver.
CMYUK Connection
“Amira Bouchiba [CMYUK’s Training Academy Manager] was our main point of contact at CMYUK and the person we speak to the most. Every time we have picked up the phone, she always answers and gets back to us. Dealing with Amira or any of the team has been fantastic and that says a lot about CMYUK – the fact that it has really good people working there.”
One year and counting
WP&D is gaining momentum as it marches towards its first anniversary. Says Mike: “We’ve created a team which can deliver. If you asked for a store fit out and you wanted to know what it's going to look like, we can create flat visuals, 3D visuals and a fully walkable, virtual store, without going to a design agency. All of us at WP&D are creative and we’re used to making and building things.”
“With our h3 we print the same quality whether you are a world-renowned brand or retailer or local business. That‘s something we’re passionate about. There's no excuse to produce something that’s being displayed in a car park and say the quality doesn’t need to be great. I’ve heard that so many times. We understand acceptable viewing distances, but bad quality can never be justified.”
