April’s Sign & Digital UK show saw Mimaki’s exclusive distributor; Hybrid Services Ltd, enjoy great success – securing a significant number of sales during and immediately after the exhibition as their reseller network placed confirmed orders for sign & graphics, UV curing and soft signage products.
The exhibition hosted the UK launch of Mimaki’s Tx400-1800D production textile printer – a 1.8m wide, direct to textile machine, sporting latest generation print heads, and Mimaki’s bulk ink system that allows up to 8 litres of ink per colour. Very well received by customers looking for a solution to produce everything from soft signage and flags to dye sublimated sportswear and high fashion garments, the Tx400 also produced the majority of the graphics on Hybrid’s stand. “We took the opportunity to practice what we preach,” said Hybrid’s marketing manager, Duncan Jefferies. “The 3.6m x 1.5m side panels on our hospitality area were one piece of display polyester printed direct on the Mimaki and then put through a rotary calendar press. Our stand builders stretched it around the panel prior to construction and we were very pleased with the result.” Other graphics and hanging fabrics on the stand were also produced on the Mimaki; printed to semi sheer flag fabric taking advantage of the machine’s ability to print direct to such cloths and delivering the necessary show-through required for such applications.
Along with significant orders for core products in the Mimaki range – such as the CJV30 printer / cutters and JV33 wide format printers; the first showing at the exhibition of Mimaki’s desktop LED UV printer; the UJF-3042 generated an unprecedented level of interest. Often found with a crowd of interested people surrounding it, the A3 printer proved the star of the show for promotional products companies, manufacturing suppliers and signmakers keen to print to small rigid substrates. John de la Roche – Hybrid’s national sales manager reported a very satisfying amount of resulting business. “We’re in the fortunate position of having our April and May order books absolutely full. All our consignments of the UJF-3042 for this period have sold out, but we continue to receive orders from companies keen to invest early in this impressive new machine.”
“Our resellers had an excellent show, “ continued de la Roche, “and we’re working hard this week to fulfil the machine orders as quickly as we can. In a tough and very competitive economic climate, it’s enormously encouraging to witness the willingness of an educated and well informed market to invest in technology that they’re convinced will benefit their businesses. The number of visitors to the show who clearly came to purchase new equipment bears testament to both this, and the quality of Mimaki’s product range.”
