Hampshire Flags investment marks new chapter

Traditionally a large-format fabric printer, producing flags, exhibition and event work, it has also always printed vinyl mounted onto substrates such as Foamex and Corex for a small number of clients. “Increasingly customers were asking for more of this type of work,” said sales manager, Rod Sessions, “and it was becoming more time consuming. We felt the need to go faster but also open ourselves up to more opportunities within the signage market. We are known as a flag and fabric manufacturer but felt we could easily become a signage manufacturer. We just needed the right equipment to help us do this efficiently and quickly.”

Historically signage has accounted for 5-10% of the business. ”We’ve always looked at the huge market potential of signage and thought we'd like a piece of it. It’s nothing too different from what we're doing but because of the machinery we have at the moment, our price point for this type of work isn’t competitive enough. There was no point us doing a signage tender because with our existing kit, we’d be priced out of the market, hence the motivation to purchase the new flatbed,” said Sessions.

The company’s diversification also encompasses personalised gifting. “We felt that with the pandemic there would be a trend towards personalised and customised gifting so we’ve positioned ourselves favourably here to meet the additional revenue streams bought about by market demand. Again, the JFX 200- 2513 EX will help us with this and we’ve got the expertise in-house to do it,” added Sessions. 

Hampshire Flag visited the CMYUK demonstration facility in Shrewsbury to check-out the Mimaki portfolio. “We were really comfortable with the JFX 200 - 2513 EX but beyond that with the CMYUK levels of service and how it would respond to our demands going forward.” 

Waterlooville-based Hampshire Flag has a turnover of £3m+ and 32 staff.