The Big Ink Tank installs new Anapurna Ciervo H3200

UK wide-format printer, The Big Ink Tank, has installed an Anapurna Ciervo H3200 hybrid UV LED inkjet printer from manufacturer, Agfa.

Founded in 2009, The Big Ink Tank provides a variety of wide-format print and installation services for clients including exhibitions, signage, and gallery and museum graphics.

The company bases its operations within a compact industrial unit near Coventry with a core team of six, offering design and artwork origination services, as well as handling, fitting, and installation.

Ty Power, founder of The Big Ink Tank, says: “We’re not a sausage factory – everything we do is pretty much bespoke, and our margins are based on adding value through creativity and service rather than just chasing volume.

“End-to-end services mean our team must be agile and flexible. Each of our team needs to be capable and able to get hands-on with everything we do and willing to get stuck in. That means our print technology similarly has to be reliable, flexible, and capable of really high-quality output because our work is on show in some very demanding environments.”

The Big Ink Tank upgraded to the new Agfa Anapurna Ciervo H3200 with flexibility in mind, replacing an existing Anapurna H3200i UV LED wide-format printer that was installed in 2018.

The print company’s transition to Agfa inkjet digital printing technology was also driven by the need for greater substrate compatibility and increased ink efficiency.

The wide-format hybrid inkjet printer works up to a width of 3.2m and at a volume up to 192sq m/h, offering six-colour UV LED inks (CMYK + cm and white).

The printer can be operated in both roll-to-roll or flatbed configurations, with quick-release tables at the infeed and outfeed on either side of the print engine designed to allow switching between formats in a matter of minutes.

Speaking of the capabilities of the press, Power continues: “The new platform has given us a real leap forward.

“The print quality of the Agfa wide-format inkjet printer we were previously running was perfect for the work we were doing but as technology has moved on, the new model’s print quality is even sharper and smoother. This is a genuine benefit as we are being asked to print more signage for exhibitions and museums, so the expectations for print quality and legibility are naturally higher.”

Agfa’s automated sign and display production hub, Asanti, was also reportedly a draw for the company. Powered by the latest version of Adobe PDF Print Engine, Asanti boasts fast, automatic PDF pre-flighting and advanced functionalities for various applications.

Power adds: “Moving from our older RIP to Asanti was probably the biggest worry. However, after a few weeks it just became normal.

“Asanti is so intuitive and user-friendly that now we’d struggle to go back. We’ve got preset board and roll sizes, common jobs set up, and it’s all very straightforward for the team.”

James Argent, sales manager (UK South) at Agfa, says: “Companies such as Ty’s are the bread and butter of the print industry. They are producing great work for a loyal customer base, so when they choose to invest, it is a major step for them and must be the right choice to help them cement their position and grow their businesses.

“As a hybrid platform, the Anapurna Ciervo H3200 comfortably handles the mix of rigid boards, roll media, and fabric-based substrates that The Big Ink Tank runs daily. We are delighted that Ty and The Big Ink Tank have chosen to reinvest in Agfa’s hybrid inkjet printing and to continue growing with our technology.”