Beginner’s luck

In everyday conversation, you will hear countless proverbs advising caution when embarking on a new venture. ‘Look before you leap’. ‘Don’t bite off more than you can chew’. ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’. ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’. ‘Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread’. I could go on.
 
And these are perhaps even more pertinent when applied to a business scenario. Entering a new market will almost always involve some capital investment, and there is no guarantee you will see this returned. As with anything in life, the sensible course of action is to start small, take one step at a time, and gradually build up into something great. With this in mind, we take a look at some of the entry-level wide-format roll-to-roll systems available in the market, considering how best to begin in this hyphen-laden sector.

A compromising position

These days an entry-level machine might come with fewer limitations than you might expect. As John de la Roche, national sales manager at Hybrid Services, explains, the advancements in technology over recent years have reduced the gap between entry-level and more high-end systems.



He says: “There are few compromises to make these days, when entry-level printers like Mimaki’s perform so highly: the only difference is slightly lower print speeds and smaller output size.”


As Mimaki’s exclusive UK and Irish distributor, Hybrid has a good offering of entry-level wide-format roll-to-roll systems, as de la Roche explains: “The Mimaki CJV150 series of integrated printer/cutters and the JV150 series printers have a very high specification and are competitively priced. Both products are truly professional machines for entry-level customers, as well as established sign and graphics businesses.”

Yet de la Roche points to the Mimaki CJV150 and JV150 series as specifically good options for beginners: “This is due to the price/performance ratio, which gives first time investors the opportunity to acquire a truly professional Mimaki printing system that not only helps startups, but fulfils requirements as the business develops. Mimaki products have a reputation for ease-of-use, with powerful software included to facilitate a simple work flow.”


 
Melanie Enser, marketing manager at Colourgen, agrees that you may not have to make as many compromises as you might think with an entry-level machine. She explains: “Speed is really the only drawback compared with the higher-end models. Otherwise they have all the same technological features meaning that really there are no limitations.”



Colourgen’s entry-level products include the Mutoh ValueJet 1324X (54?), Mutoh ValueJet 1604X (64?), and Mutoh ValueJet 1624X (64?). Enser cites their cost as the main reason for their suitability for beginners, but also points to their ease of use and setup, media flexibility, low maintenance, and application flexibility.



Easy does it

Of course, ease-of-use will be high on the list of criteria for those looking to invest in a starter system. This is one of the key points that Phil McMullin, sales manager at Epson UK, picks up on when describing the firm’s new entry-level kit. He explains: “In the entry-level signage sector, Epson offers the 64-inch SureColor SC-S40600, the 64-inch SureColor SC-P10000, and the 44-inch SureColor SC-P20000. These are all new and have been launched since January this year.

“These new printers are not only a good price but they are virtually ‘plug-and-play’, because we have designed them to be extremely easy to install, set-up and operate. They feature automatic cleaning and maintenance routines and require minimal operator intervention, which means companies can maximise production, confident that they will produce great quality products.
 
“The SureColor SC-S40600 is a versatile printer and ideal for the production of signage, canvas prints and décor on a variety of media. This is one of three new SC-S printers and all use a new GS3 inkset. Its improved ink chemistry results in lower ink consumption which, alongside a substantial reduction in ink price, results in a big improvement in total cost of ownership compared to other printer options on the market.”

McMullin continues: “Another nice feature is the Epson Control Dashboard, which provides an interface to our extensive and growing online database of media profiles. Printing on a new stock is as simple as selecting media type and desired print settings within the Dash-board’s intuitive user interface. The Dashboard then automatically downloads an all-inclusive EMX (Epson Media Extension) profile and configures printer and RIP settings. The result is that even novice operators are able to produce highest-quality optimised output on a wide range of media – time and time again. What would have taken an operator several hours to perfect is now available at a click of a button.
 
“The new aqueous SureColor SC-P printers are perfect for the production of high-quality interior display graphics, plus large-format fine art and photographs. In addition to handling roll media, these printers can print onto rigid board up to 1.5m wide.”

In terms of compromise, with these machines you are limited to printing onto media up to 64” wide, so if you wish to print onto wider or rigid material you will need to invest in a bigger—and therefore more expensive—machine.
 
Roland DG also offers a range of entry-level wide-format machines, as academy and creative centre manager Joe Wigzell explains: “Small or start-up businesses often opt for the VersaSTUDIO BN-20 desktop inkjet printer/cutter and the VersaCAMM SP-i Series of printer/cutters as the ideal entry into the wide-format market. The VersaSTUDIO BN-20 is a compact yet efficient integrated print and cut device, which fits perfectly onto a small desktop, making it ideal for a small office environment. Although smaller in size than Roland DG’s other wide-format machines, the VersaSTUDIO BN-20 is a powerful, compact tool able to produce full colour and contour cut graphics on a broad spectrum of coated and uncoated media including: stickers, labels, t-shirt transfers, photo prints, signs, posters, small format signage, and even vehicle graphics.



“For those looking to enter wide-format print on a bigger scale, the VersaCAMM SP-i Series is a great place to start. The powerful and economical print and cut series is a complete production solution for professionals at varying stages of their professional print careers. Available in two sizes SP-300i—30? (0.76m) and SP-540i—54? (1.37m), the wide-format inkjet digital printer is easy to use for businesses with a limited product range, and powerful enough for experienced professionals who have additional advanced production requirements.”

Wigzell continues: “Both machines also offer outstanding value for money, with a low initial investment cost and a huge potential for a high profit return. For example, by utilising a VersaSTUDIO BN-20 and selling output for £30.00 per square meter, a small business running the machine four hours per day could earn a daily gross revenue of up to £132.00. Operating at this rate over 20 working days, this would give a monthly production profit of nearly £2070.00, taking into account costs on overheads and production costs. Both machines are highly profitable and affordable to operate.

“These entry-level roll-to-roll machines are ideal for both small and larger businesses, however there are some limitations for business requiring high-volume output at high speed. Both machines are powerful and efficient, handling smaller media rolls. This is perfect for businesses with smaller production speeds, but may be a limitation for business looking to expand into larger markets with a more versatile range of applications. The more advanced Roland DG wide-format machines, including the newly launched Roland DG TrueVIS VG Series printer/cutters, also offers faster print speeds and drying times than the entry-level machines, which is vital for businesses with a high volume production.”

A new venture

If moving into wide-format print represents a significant departure from your current product offering, or if you are new to the industry entirely, investing in the right machine is only one of the factors that need to be considered. Colourgen’s Enser advises conducting extensive research of your client base, explaining: “Find out what applications they are demanding that you currently cannot fulfil and they are going elsewhere for (putting your business at risk).
 
“Once that is done, look at how far you can widen the client net outside your current base by offering more and better applications. Study how the investment can increase your business and client base and put together a business plan. Select a supplier who can guide you properly through the purchase, installation and training process.”

She concludes: “Colourgen can help with this through our extensive printer, media, and application knowledge (over 20 years), as well as our training about the printer itself.”

De la Roche says the best advice he can give those entering the sector is to talk to Hybrid Services: “The teams at Hybrid, Mimaki, and our specialist resellers have decades of experience in advising new startups and we always endeavour to team up first-time investors with the right machine for their needs.”

For McMullin from Epson UK, the primary focus is also the machines. He explains: “For both commercial printers looking to future proof their business and expand their range of services, and for established POS print firms, then investing in an eco-solvent SureColor SC-40600 printer is a good move. The running costs are low, it produces superb results and can print on virtually any flexible media. Its ability to print on low-cost monomeric vinyl at speed is a major benefit.

“We showed this at FESPA recently and this certainly drew the crowds. With media suppliers providing lengths as small as one metre within 24 hours, there is no need to stock a lot of different substrates. Companies can stock two or three of the most popular media—such as self-adhesive monomeric/polymeric, banner and paper—and just order special media as required.”

O Factoid: Wide-format printers are generally known to support a maximum print roll width of between 18? and 100?, above this is considered super-wide. O

Roland DG’s Wigzell agrees that having high-quality equipment that is both productive and profitable is the first step to success in this growing market, but is not the only area of consideration. He explains: “Professionals should take time to choose the perfect machine for their requirements, talking to industry experts on what they want to achieve from a machine. Roland DG professionals know the machines they manufacture better than anyone else and can advise businesses on the best options to gain the most from each machine.

“Yet, in a time where consumers have more options than ever before, companies looking to enter the wide-format roll-to-roll sector also need to ensure they have a unique selling point, which makes them stand out from the rest. Investing in a wide format digital printer isn’t enough these days for users to succeed in the dynamic and exciting industry; users need to partner with a company that offers more. Roland DG offers more than just a printer—and are there every step of the way to ensure businesses using Roland DG machinery succeed.”

A golden opportunity

So, it seems it is only getting easier to diversify—or start over altogether—in wide-format roll-to-roll. As technology advances, hardware is becoming more affordable and easier to use, making it appealing not just to smaller start-ups but also to larger companies, such as retail groups, who have traditionally outsourced print and are now bringing production in-house.
 
Yet does this ease of entry mean the market is becoming saturated? Not according to Epson’s McMullin, who explains: “There is a still huge potential for growth in the signage market. Advertising refresh rates are now a matter of weeks instead of months, localised retail advertising is growing in popularity and vehicle branding is still not widely adopted. So the ability to print quality graphics on low-cost monomeric vinyl using a great quality printer provides significant opportunity for print-service-providers.”


Wigzell from Roland DG concurs, commenting: “The potential for growth within the wide-format print market is huge, and the versatility of Roland DG’s machines means that users can produce the more typical banner and poster output, but also move into more complex applications including: exhibition graphics, POS materials, labels, floor graphics, packaging proofs, signs and window graphics and much more.

“Entering the wide-format roll-to-roll sector can be a daunting step for professionals with limited knowledge and experience of the industry. At Roland DG, we offer our customers access to the Roland DG Academy, often as part of their machine purchase. The Roland DG Academy is an industry recognised training facility, which provides attendees with an engaging learning environment designed to suit all skill levels and provide ideas for further business development and insight into the advanced capabilities of all Roland DG products.”



He concludes: “Roland DG’s integrated wide-format roll-to-roll technology, care and training package are positioned to give customers the opportunity to create an impressive diverse portfolio, with the support needed to grow and succeed in a developing market.”


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