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A significant step forward
Significant Signs’ HP Designjet 10000 has widened its business scope and created new opportunities
Significant Signs explains why being the UK’s first HP Designjet 10000 series user has, quite literally, widened its business scope, created new opportunities and given it more credibility among big customers
Plymouth-based Significant Signs was founded by managing director, Jim Tuggle, with a vinyl cutter in the spare bedroom producing safety and vehicle signage. Thirteen years on, the company has its own premises, eight skilled employees and a wide client base including other sign companies.
Jim said: “I think the key to our success is continually being one step ahead of the rest. We were one of the first companies in the South West to have a large format printer installed 10-years ago which enabled us to build the client base we have now. I’m even more delighted we are the first in the UK to have the Designjet 10000.
“When choosing the printer the foremost reason was width as we were sub-contracting out anything over 1.5m. This has had many positive repercussions as we are now more cost competitive, have more credibility with larger clients and are able to promote a tighter service. It is frustrating to have a job delayed by a third party contractor. Now we have full control and can ensure jobs are out on time, at all times.
“The market for larger prints and banners was already growing and although we had a good large-format print supplier, quality wasn’t up to scratch. I could also foresee more sign companies branching into large format digital and that meant our business outlook needed to be tighter, cost included.
“I figured the Designjet 10000 also produces excellent quality smaller prints, which is a good proportion of our business. This means I can eventually get rid of the smaller printer I have which, although paid for, still has a maintenance contract which is paid monthly.”
Production time is also an issue and the HP Designjet 10000 can produce double sided-prints which Jim felt was ideal: “A lot of graphics were printed twice to get that effect, then finished by hemming and eyeleting which meant the job took longer. Now delivery lead times have reduced and Significant Signs are offering something more competitive.
“Suppliers you can trust are also instrumental in our business success. We were very cautious after problems with our previous supplier, it really left a bad taste in my mouth, but City & West End Solutions have never let us down yet. Their philosophy is that selling you the printer is just the start of the relationship and they’ve yet to be proven wrong on their service, advice or delivery.”
The Designjet 10000 super-wide 104in printer features HP low-solvent inks designed to produce output lasting up to three-years without lamination. Features include: dual-roll and double-sided printing; high speed dryer; heavy duty take-up reel for media weighing up to 110kgs. The machine can produce mesh prints (without liner) and print speeds are up to 30m2/h. It’s low-solvent inks are part of a solution that includes an air purification system and guidelines for use that help make HP low-solvent ink printing safe, productive and easy.
City & West End Solutions managing director, Doug Gilbertson, explained how the company is equipped to support its customers: “Our service quality is reflected in the fact that we employ more support and engineering staff than we do salesmen. The in-depth knowledge we have of the wide format print arena and our commitment to the industry, like many of the manufacturers we represent, is second to none, plus we are continually trying to improve our services like our recent investment in our state-of-the-art showroom, making demonstrations and training easier and more accessible to our clients.”
