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X5 investment spurs diversification move

Do you choose to diversify and buy the technology to support that strategic move? Or do you buy technology that can offer you excess capacity and diversify into a new sector based on its proven strengths after extensive use?

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Richard Davis, managing director of Iberian Group, beams after the DYSS X5 is delivered

This is a question facing many businesses in our sector, with Iberian Digital opting for the latter option and managing to generate impressive growth in doing so after purchasing a DYSS X5 digital cutter from AG CAD.

“Prior to the arrival of the DYSS X5, we had one member of staff cutting by hand full-time, with more complex work sent to an external supplier,” explains managing director of the Iberian Group, Les Allitt. He continues: “The DYSS has enabled us to re-distribute our labour resource and eliminate a major external cost. The saving in the cost of subcontract cutting will pay for the DYSS in less than two years. In fact, we are using the DYSS flat-out for five days a week, so it will probably pay-back faster than we realise.

“Initially we bought the DYSS to eliminate bottlenecks and our reliance on subcontractors. After its installation, we realised additional benefits such as reduced labour requirement, better cut quality and precision, and also an ability to process new materials. We’ve even reduced our material stock holding by over 20 percent.”

Initially we bought the DYSS to eliminate bottlenecks and our reliance on subcontractors.

Since the DYSS was installed, Iberian has also added wallpaper design and production to its portfolio. With the design expertise already in-house, Allitt—who runs the firm with co-managing director Richard Davis—singles out that it is the ability of the K-Cut vision system on the DYSS that has allowed the company to manufacture its own lines of wallpaper.

Allitt concludes: “This example of diversification is now allowing us to challenge our design team to develop new concepts and market sectors for our business. Being near the coast, we are also cutting more vinyl graphics for boats, cars and vans.

“The next step is the point-of-sale industry. Our new-found ability to rapidly make samples in-house will position us well for exploiting this market. The in-house designers are already using the Kasemake CAD software suite from AG CAD to create cartons and boxes for new customers. In fact, the DYSS X5 and the Kasemake CAD suite are the tools that now allow our designers to turn concepts from on-screen designs to physical samples.”

The 24 employee Iberian Group is growing at a rapid rate with the existing facility being trebled in size from 11,000 to 33,000sq/ft (1,022 to 3,065sq m). The expansion will accommodate the recent year-on-year growth rate of 20 percent, whilst facilitating its ambitions to accelerate its future growth to beyond 40 percent annually.

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