As part of a long-term strategy to put quality at the heart of its business, Coloursonic has invested in a swissQprint Nyala large format printer. This move has made a significance difference to the business.
Coloursonic took delivery of their new swissQprint Nyala, with the roll-to-roll option, in the autumn of 2021 where it was put immediately to work. The London-based large format creative production company was founded by husband-and-wife team Michaela and Paul Chandler who, for more than two decades, have produced large format graphics for a wide range of clients in London’s creative and cultural industries.
The Nyala has since replaced both a latex flatbed and a 3.2 m UV roll to roll printer. “The team love using it,” says Michaela. She explains that switching from flatbed mode to roll to roll printing is quick and easy, with zero wastage, and the energy consumption is significantly lower, too. “We love the Swiss precision,” she continues. “Everything about these machines is built to last. We no longer have to worry about expensive maintenance contracts or the machine breaking down.”
Agility in a world of rapid change
The entrepreneurs are known for their agility, and this was also true during the early stages of the global pandemic when the Chandler’s engaged a business mentor to assist with strategic planning. “We wanted to make bespoke fine art printing more accessible,” continues Michaela. One of the first things they did was set up a web-to-print portal for the fine art side of the business. “It opened the door for us to work with many more digital artists”, she explains.
The couple also revisited a 2019 project to upgrade its latex flatbed printer, only this time with something significantly better. “The research had already been done,” says Michaela. It would have been easy to stick with the original plan and replace the flatbed with a newer model, but there was no long-term benefit to this way of thinking. “That’s the sort of thinking our competitors would do. We wanted something that they didn’t have. We just didn’t know what that was”, she remembers.
Limitless creative possibilities
During this period the Chandler’s contacted swissQprint to request some samples. What they saw was enough to convince them to request a demonstration. They took the usual ‘challenging’ client files with them, Paul explains. “The results produced on the Nyala were stunning – even without calibration. The quality was amazing, and the creative possibilities seemed limitless.” Michaela adds: “We didn’t need to be convinced that we wanted one!”
Creative capital
Located in upscale Maida Vale, just five minutes from the city centre, the area is home to a host of world-renowned artists, photographers, authors, poets, playwrights, actors, and musicians. Singers Björk, Noel Gallagher and Jarvis Cocker have all lived there. It is also home to the world-famous Abbey Road recording studios where the Beatles recorded their eponymous album.
“This part of London is like a magnet for creative people,” says Michaela. “We never know who is going to come through the door. It could be anybody from the world of art & design, fashion, music, film, theatre, TV, cinema, and live events. No two days are the same.”
Look forward with confidence
“It’s a nice feeling when you have a clear vision of what your future looks like. Having the Nyala has made an incredible difference to the business, even in the short time we have been using it,” concludes Michaela.