Newbury exhibition and events firm Paramount4 has installed a Mimaki UCJV300-160 printer-cutter after finding previous success with a 3.2m-wide Mimaki.

Paramount4’s latest purchase from supplier CMYUK, in December, has allowed the company to step up its production speeds significantly, as it now runs its vinyl work through the 1.6m-wide UCJV300.

Since early 2022, the firm had been running the vast majority of its work — fabric and vinyl — through its Mimaki UJV55-320.

The simultaneous running of both machines has made for massive time savings, according to Gareth Jenkins, graphics project manager at Paramount4.

He told Printweek: “[The UCJV300] is now a dedicated vinyl machine, with the 3.2m press just for lightbox material and blackout material.

“We don’t have to strip the machine down, put the large roll away, put the vinyl roll on, feed it through and run test prints. It’s great, because you’re running the two machines at once, and halving the print time, if not more — it’s been quite advantageous.”

Before the 3.2m UJV55, however, Paramount4 had been using solvent printers — and the Mimaki UV-dried inkjet press meant a real boost to quality.

Jenkins said: “It was a massive bonus for the quality of the print, and the maintenance is minimal, it sort of looks after itself to some degree.

The firm’s drive to update its print equipment was spurred by the arrival of James Taylerson as graphics project manager alongside Jenkins in 2021.

Taylerson said: “I knew instantly that the business would really benefit from updating its equipment, and the revamp would provide the potential for bringing in a great deal more work. The company has really gone for it, and the results have been brilliant.”

The pair researched a number of wide-format presses, judging each by value for money and energy and ink efficiency. The printers’ looks, unusually, also formed one of their criteria.

Taylerson said: “We’re turning our graphics studio into a working showroom as many of our clients and colleagues visit here to see our print capabilities and look at the samples and finishes that are on display. The Mimaki UJV55 wasn’t just the best on performance, it looks the part as well.

“What really jumped out, though, is the richness of colour and the balance between speed and quality. Also, installation was a breeze - literally plug and play, straight out of the box.”

Paramount4 also bought an Easymount 1600 Single Hot laminator alongside its UCJV300 in December.

Jenkins explained: “Sometimes we over-laminate our PVC vinyl prints that are being used outside for added weather protection, but we also use it as security for ourselves. 

“A lot of print we produce is flat, and often when its shipped, lots of other objects get loaded on top of it. The extra lamination gives us peace of mind, an insurance against damage in transit.”