Contract Sign Systems has signalled its intention to diversify its service offering by becoming the first UK-based company to invest in Canon’s Océ Arizona 6160 XTS wide-format flatbed printer. It has also bought a Zünd G3 digital cutting table.
The Cornwall-based company, which specialises in parking, town, street and prohibitive signage, as well offering other commercial applications wanted a technology capable of producing higher volumes of applications with a faster turnaround. The Arizona comes with a Zünd G3 digital cutting table to create new shapes for bespoke signs, enabling the company to enter new markets such as trade signage and retail.
“The core of our business is car park signage, which regularly needs replacing,” said Leroy Fox, sales director, Contract Sign Systems. “Car park operators adjust their prices and change their contractors frequently, and some of our customer orders have to be delivered within 24 hours.”
Since 2011, a large proportion of Contract Signs Systems’ work has been produced by Canon’s Océ Arizona 550 XT wide-format printer. Fox said: “The Arizona 550 XT has been a key driver in growing our business and has become the cornerstone of our production line. We want to develop that further and add speed and application versatility into the mix.”
He added: “The sheer speed, quality and reliability of the six-colour Arizona 6160 XTS – complemented by the value of the training and sales service we’d experienced with Canon following the purchase of the 550 XT model – made the latest investment decision a no-brainer. The high-flow vacuum system was also a major factor, as a lot of our work is produced with aluminium composite. The investment will enable us to increase and improve efficiencies, enhance productivity and help expand our UK and global operations.”
Canon launched its Océ Arizona 6100 Series – which also comprises the seven-colour 6170 XTS model – at Fespa Digital 2014 in March 2014. Capable of speeds of up to 155m2 per hour, the new series features a high-flow vacuum system, automated printhead maintenance, pneumatic media registration pins and two independent printing zones for non-stop printing.