DM Signs in Wigan aims to extend its bespoke packaging offering, and to provide larger clients with their own microsites so they can directly order their own branded products. The moves follow relocation to a 700m2 site and investment in new Mimaki and Esko kit.
The family-owned firm has upgraded from an older Mimaki flatbed to the JFX 200-2513 EX, and has made the leap from a Summa f series cutter to a Kongsberg Esko X-44 digital cutting table. The new equipment, ordered through CMYUK, joins an existing Mimaki UCJV300-160 UV roll-to-roll printer as part of a major upgrade in capacity and capability coupled with the move to larger premises.
DM Signs - established for over 40 years and with a key focus on large-format stadium signage - is currently run by Jamie Collins and Andy and Joyce Hudson, who purchased the business ten years ago. This is the third time it has relocated in the decade.
During lockdown DM Signs has been inundated with the demand for Covid-19 safety screens and signage, winning contracts with the NHS as well as supplying local businesses. “We had steadily been growing out of the unit we were in, but this took us over the edge,” said Collins. “We needed somewhere large enough for customer vehicles as well as increased space for manufacturing and finishing.”
The relocation gave DM Signs the chance to review its existing production equipment. “We took the decision to upgrade our Mimaki JFX 200 to the JFX200 EX. We were very happy with the capabilities of the flatbed but the upgraded version has given us extra speed that increases our production capacity,” said Andy Hudson. He added that the purchase of the Esko X-44 was an obvious choice too, and that on recommendation of CMYUK it also took i-Cut software, “which has helped us streamline our workflow.”
Nexton the agenda is the promotion and use of greater eco-responsible materials such as PVC-free Kavalan from CMYUK.
“As businesses reopen, they will want to refresh their environments. We want to be able to help them do that in a more ethical way, so we’ll be looking at new environmental materials that we know the machinery can handle,” said Andy Hudson.