ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202 printer
Lancashire print, signage and workwear business Zell-Em Branding has reported a considerable increase in output speeds since installing a ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202 from Quality Print Services (QPS).
The business continues to invest in the latest print technology to ensure it remains well positioned to meet its customers’ demands, which is what led it to seek a new investment in the ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202.
Steve Cartmell, operations manager at Zell-Em, said: “We didn’t want a like-for-like replacement. We wanted a machine that would allow us to handle greater volumes, improve productivity, create new opportunities and remove the need to outsource jobs that were too large for our old printer. The Vulcan ticked all those boxes.
“Compared to our previous equipment, the Vulcan offers significantly higher production speeds, a much larger print width and improved print quality across a wide variety of substrates.”
The ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid is a 3.2m UV-LED hybrid printer designed to handle both rigid and roll-to-roll media on a single platform.
Configured with Ricoh Gen6 print heads and CMYK plus white ink, the device can print at speeds of up to 91m sq/hr, supports rigid media as thick as 35mm and produces output at resolutions of up to 2,400dpi. Other features include dual UV-LED curing and an Onyx Thrive RIP workflow.
Despite having only been in place since April, Mr Cartmell said the new ColorJet printer has already become a key part of the company’s large-format department and is used across a wide range of applications.
The new printer has bolstered the company’s production
He continued: “The productivity gains have exceeded our expectations. We’re producing work faster, improving quality, reducing waste and still have significant spare capacity available. It has given us a genuine competitive advantage.”
Looking ahead, Steve said Zell-Em sees the ColorJet Vulcan as a platform for growth, with the machine having strengthened its position in markets it already serves while also opening doors to new opportunities in areas such as retail graphics, exhibition displays, construction signage and billboard printing.
He concluded: “The increased print width and productivity mean we can now confidently target larger-format projects, while the flexibility of the hybrid platform allows us to diversify into applications that we may not previously have promoted as heavily.
“This wasn’t simply an investment for today. It gives us the flexibility to expand into new applications, the throughput to meet increasing demand and the scalability to support the business for years to come.”
