As a company in its relative infancy, Image2Print has been producing signage, stickers, pull-up banners and posters since its inception some four years ago. However, with over twenty five years experience in the packaging reprographics arena its speciality is the production of packaging prototypes and mock ups. Like any growing business, success can often be based upon the correct plant purchases. For Stockport based Image2Print, such acquisitions have included Canon and Roland roll to roll printers and a UV hybrid printer for rigid material and most recently a CNC cutting table from AG/CAD.
All these purchases have been part of a natural progression that has continually yielded success for Image2Print. The company found it was increasingly being asked if it could produce packaging prototypes on various boards and flexible substrates. Additionally there was a demand for a stand-alone cutting and creasing service.
Company Director, Mr Foulkes says: "We increasingly noted a demand for cutting and creasing expertise. For some companies with cutting tables, print quality and reprographic knowledge was often an issue. A number of companies with cutting capabilities were also limited by the quality of their machines. We spotted a huge opportunity and reviewed the market for a solution."
The solution was found at the FESPA 2013 exhibition where Image2Print acquired an AG/CAD DYSS X5 CNC cutting table. As Mr Foulkes continues: "We fully investigated the marketplace and found that AG/CAD offered the best overall package at a cost that was affordable for a small business. The result for Image2Print is that we can now offer a complete packaging service to customers as well as the printing service. In fact, we have doubled the turnover of our packaging department since installing the DYSS machine. This is because the capabilities and flexibility of the machine enable us to complete a wide variety of jobs that we would have previously been forced to turn away. We are also expanding our customer base as a result of the DYSS acquisition."
Image2Print has enjoyed considerable growth since the DYSS system was installed and this is a credit to the company for being extremely diligent in its review of the marketplace and its commitment to producing work of the highest quality. The factors that won the order for AG/CAD according to Image2Print, was the extremely sturdy and robust build quality of the DYSS and its engineering excellence compared to the alternative machines. This robust build quality is evident in the cutting head of the DYSS, as Mr Foulkes explains: "The DYSS build quality is far superior to other machines in the same class. The attention to detail is excellent. This is evident in the design and construction of the cutting head that is machined from a one piece billet of alloy and finished to a very high standard."
As a company that is now producing prototypes and small batch runs on the DYSS of anywhere from 1 to 50 off on anything from FBB, B-Flute, E-Flute, Foamex and specialist boards, it's evident why the Greater Manchester based manufacturer opted for the DYSS system. Producing anything from frozen food and cereal boxes through to intricate cosmetic packaging, the DYSS has proved invaluable. Larger packaging and POS projects for large supermarket brands where precision and quality is a must are handled with ease. This is why the build quality of the DYSS was a key factor. Furthermore, the DYSS multi-head tool station can be configured for a reciprocating knife, drag knife or a kiss cut knife and a creasing wheel in any configuration unlike many alternative cutting tables.
The benefit of these tools for Image2Print is the ability to cut and crease with astounding quality. Additionally, in certain circumstances the very high accuracy of the AG/CAD K-Cut Vision camera system allows jobs to be cut and creased from the reverse side of the board. Commenting upon this, Mr Foulkes states: "We have found the K-Cut Vision system very easy to use and highly accurate. This enables us to cut and crease on the reverse side of the sheet when needed. The customer feedback on the quality of the cutting and creasing has been extremely positive. The combination of the K-Cut Vision System and the knife tools is excellent."
Concluding on the purchase of the DYSS X5, Mr Foulkes says: "We can now cut and crease samples with remarkable speed and precision and we are well geared for delivering high quality samples to win new business and this is a major factor in our recent growth. Furthermore, the AG/CAD machine is supplied with 3D software, which opens up other avenues and value for our clients as we can create a 3D image of a design before making an actual sample. The addition of the DYSS X5 has been a invaluable asset to our business and is a major factor in our continued and future growth strategy. By purchasing from AG/CAD, we have received a high quality solution with service and support that is unsurpassed."