Event and retail display graphics specialist Silver Bullet has installed one of the UK’s first Epson SureColor SC-S30600 wide-format inkjet printers at its new walk-in service point in Sandy, Bedfordshire. The 64-inch (162.6cm), four-colour, roll-fed machine was supplied by Epson reseller Spandex, and joins a Summa plotter and laminator.
Sandy is the first of a network of large-format digital print walk-in centres that Silver Bullet will be rolling out over the coming months and plans to franchise. “It’s always been our ambition to open a chain of print shops and take control of digital print services in-house,” says managing director Matthew Kingsford. “We want the best of both worlds: the ability to produce some fast turnaround, high-quality signage products in-house, while still working with our partners to supply litho and screen print. In addition to servicing major retail clients with European-wide projects, we can now also provide a service to smaller local companies on a walk-in basis.”
The company’s strong focus on customer care has attracted some well-known customers, including energy drinks company Monster Energy. “We produce a lot of event material for Monster Energy, often within tight deadlines,” says Matthew. A recent high-profile event was the Monster Energy rig at the MotoGP in Le Mans in May for which Silver Bullet produced event graphics (to see this in action go to http://youtu.be/p-y2nFVtrmA). “We welcome any brief – the more challenging the better – and like to come up with creative ideas and solutions.”
The company worked closely with one of the UK’s largest suppliers to the sign and display industry, Spandex, to suggest the best equipment to produce quality pop-ups, pull-ups, vehicle livery and large graphics. ““Spandex know our business very well and give us a lot of support. They handle everything, from recommending, installing and integrating the hardware and software to providing full training, after care and consumables supply,” says Matthew. “They strongly recommended the new Epson SureColor SC-S30600 for its versatility, reliability, productivity and quality. These criteria are essential to the walk-in concept. We often don’t know what the next job is until the customer comes through the door, so we need a printer we can rely on to produce high-quality work, quickly, on a wide range of media.”
“At Spandex we pride ourselves in being able to provide complete solutions that fully meet the application needs of our customers. This can only be achieved by working closely with leading industry suppliers such as Epson. As always, we will continue to work closely with our customers to ensure they have the right tools to be effective and profitable, even in the most competitive markets” says Leon Watson, Spandex General Manager UK.
Launched earlier this year, the SureColor SC-S30600 sets a new price/performance ratio in a highly competitive sector, delivering efficient, environmentally-friendly production at the lowest total cost of ownership. Epson has designed the new printer to be fast and easy to set up and use. Loading heavy media rolls, usually a two-person job, can be handled by one operator with ease thanks to a unique jack device. Media tensioning, traditionally only accessible from the front of the printer, is controllable from both front and rear, so operators do not waste time going back and forth. This reduces set-up time and maximises productivity.
Matthew is also impressed by the SureColor’s maximum speed of 29.4 sqm/hour. “Since the printer arrived it’s handled several large runs comfortably and we are producing about 200 sqm a day on average. We have left it running unattended all night on occasions, which shows the confidence we have in the machine. We are really impressed with the SureColor, it scores on all counts and we already planning to buy a second.”
Silver Bullet is a company with huge amounts of energy and ambition. Its creative flair is even reflected in its new shop! They commissioned Frank Louis Allen, a partially sighted progressive artist and designer on the spectrum, has drawn an original abstract design on one wall. “It reflects our fun side,” smiles Matthew.
For more information on Silver Bullet, please visit www.sbsg.co.uk
