Based in Rugby, Warwickshire, John Good is the UK’s leading publisher of high-end programmes and promotional materials for the theatre and arts sector. Each year, the company creates more than 12 million programmes and magazines for clients across the industry.
Alongside this, John Good offers large-format printing services, and last year made the decision to expand this part of the business to capitalise on rising demand among customers. This led to the company investing in the HP Latex R2000, purchasing the device from approved HP partner Papergraphics, alongside a new HP Indigo printer as part of a wider initiative to strengthen its printing capabilities. Both machines were installed in August 2023.
The hybrid machine – which can print on a wide variety of both rigid and flexible substrates – has a 2.5m maximum printing width. It boasts a top speed of 86sq m/hr in outdoor quality mode, with the ability to print in seven colours: black, cyan, light cyan, light magenta, magenta, white, and yellow.
The purchase has proved a shrewd one for John Good, with Commercial Manager Steve Bubb saying the company has been able to use the machine to expand its services and move into new markets. One area of note is the construction industry, where John Good is now offering polycarbonate panels to clients within this market.
“We wanted to offer a wider selection of large-format output to complement our existing product range by adding foamex, correx and rigid substrates to our offering,” Steve said.
“The machine has had a huge impact on our operations. We did not anticipate the vast range of products the printer would enable us to produce, and it has won us work from clients in markets we had not previously explored.”
Steve also highlights the sustainable qualities of the HP Latex R2000, saying this played a major part in the decision to invest. As is the case with all HP Latex printing machines, the device runs HP Latex Inks , which are water-based and significantly more friendly to the environment than their solvent, eco-solvent and UV counterparts.
“We identified the HP Latex R2000 as the machine of choice for its versatility and its environmental credentials ,” Steve said. “Sustainability is a huge driver for us as a business. The HP Latex R2000, and our HP Indigo 15K machine, enable us to significantly reduce waste through efficient productivity and low energy consumption.”
